C^}H. r 




LET US HAVE PEACE 




'GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 18G9. 



J 



AN ELOaUEITT TRIBUTE TO WELL DOIITQ. 

Extract from the National Police Gazltte, February 20, 1869. 

^ AN. ANGEL IN A DEN^OF THIEVES* 
A Prodigy of Beiieyolence— Wasliingtoii, the 
Second Conqueror. 



No resident New Yorker could have failed to observe a remarkable character quietly 
making his way through our several streets, in buckskin garments, cut in the style of 
the old Continental fashion of Revolutionary days, with three-cornered hat to match, 
while his long, white locks, floated over his shoulders with truly silver-gray attrac- 
tiveness. He is indeed a character. He has visited about every part of the known 
world. He has made a succession of fortunes and lost them. He has given with a 
prodigal hand to every object appeahng to his charity. Those who have robbed him, 
have again and agam been the subjects of his humane interposition. He has suffered 
every variety of wrong and misfortune, and yer, notwithstanding his advanced age 
and his painfully severe experience, his fresh, clear complexion, and his pure bene- 
volence have survived all his trouble!^, and combine to mark his features with the cheer- 
ful serenity almost of the "just made perfect." His contributions to science and art 
have equalled his unsparing charities, and, indeed, there is scarce V a field of human 
effort involving care, intelhgence and lof y moral excellence, in which this decidedly 
marked character has not bee i an effective and enthusiastic worker. Sacli a cha- 
racter deserves some detailed elucidation. He is known, among the multitude of 
titles bestowed upon him by his grateful admire'-s, as t^e Pioneer of the W Iderness. 

The buckskin attire in which he so independently crosses our most conspicuous 
thoroughfares, was made i i California nearly ten years ago. During his more recent 
residence in this city, public curio-ity has been considerably excited concerning this 
marvel of a "man about town, ' clad ia the above stracge array, and earnest inquiries 
have been made about his antecedents. To gratify this curiosity, we hdve in tue first 
place prevailed on him to sit for his photograph by those distinguished artists, 
Sarony & Co., Broadway, and we herewi h present our readers with a fac simile of the 
same by one of our best engravers. But we propose to go further in anticipation of 
the wishes of our numerous readers, and within the space that we can spare, give at 
least a portion of that rare chapter of accidents tha-. make up the biography of this 
trulv remarkable man. We can assure our readers of the entire authenticity of the 
particulars we are about to give, that are woven through the eventful career of this 
veteran on hia mssion of benevolence around the world. 

It is scarcely necessary to go back further than thu'ty years, when we fiad our hero 
the central figure of a great excitement in this city in a series of lecturer on phreno- 
loo-v. Thesolacturos were at first given at Niblo s Garden at the rate of three pet day. 
Subsequen ly these lec'ures wtre continued at the same rate per day at the old Ame- 
rican Museum, long before the versatile and ubiqutous Barnutn became the hero and 
mana"in«' chief. l>ut " no pent up Utica" could confine the various geuius ot this ea- 
teprismg*' spa-it! No sinyle field of scientific inves igation could hold him within its 

Havhig traversed the domains of phrenology, he next became greatly interested in 
the expforation of electric magnetic powers, and ne succeeeed so far as ac ually to 
bronel a train of cars by those powers, in the Royal Gallery of Practical Science in 
London He was thus the first person in Great Britain to create a new mo.ive power 
bv the electric current. His original success inspired him with sanguine hopes of 
beino- able to avoid the great dangers attciding the use of steam as such, and it was a 
success which he, of all men, could gratefully appreciate ; for he had been wrecked on 
the Mississippi and spent a night on a sand-bar on the great Father of Waters. He 
succeeded triaiiphant y in applying the power, on a limited scale, carrying passengers 
in all the Eastern cities. He visited Washington City with the same motive power 
earlv in 1840 and there, by experimenting, he succeeded in carrying messages, by the 
pame electric current, on the 28th ©f Jan., 1840 ; but not until he had expended his last 
dollar in advancing this most beneficent enterprise. Thia brilUant triumph was 
achieved bv our hero about five months before any patent or monopoly involving this 
preat nrincinle was granted to any person in the United States, and more than three 
wars before the assembled wisdom of the nation invested a single dollar for the same 
beneficent purpose. Our hero therefore claims, and justly claims, to have been the 
fqfhpr of nublic tele£?raphing on this comment, and consequently had the distin- 
guished honor of thus virtually presenting the telegraph to the nations of moderu 



historv After he succeeded in carrying passengers by that beautiful, invisible and 
rr!vtPri-nnR acreucv electro-magnetism, it was the simplest task in the world to carry 
the same nrinciple to its subsequent triumphs, but notwithstanding our hero's great 
deserts in this field of scientific investigation, he never asked for any returnf or them 



THE DAWN OF THE MILLENIUM ! 
^^^^ SPLENDID DISCOVERY! 



A BEAUTIFUL PLAN TO GIVE EVERY MAN (AND WOMAN ALSO) A 
NICE HOUSE AND LOT, AND A NICE LITTLE WIFE OPw « 
A HUSBAND FOR ALL, WITH NEARLY 



^NE ^UNDKED ^^ICTOKIAL ^LLUSTKATIONS 



OF SOME PASSAGES IN THE 

LIFE AND THRILLING ADVENTURES 
' OF THE AUTHOR, PIONEER 



AND MISSIONAET OF SOIENOE AND BENEFICENCE AROUND THE WORLD 1 1 



PORTI-FIVE YE-UIS PAST, PEOVEN BY NEARLY FIFTY TlTliEa OF HONOB, ASD AUTOOBAPH 

nBCOMM:E>a)ATIONS FROM THOUSAND^ OF DISTINGUISHED LADIKh AND QENTIJEMEN 

OF NEW YORK, PHILADKLPSIA, EUROPE, CALIFORNIA, AUSTRALIA, ETC. 



Published by F. COOMBS, Author, 

46 Robinson Street, »«> Tork, 

I ^ - ^' • 

Where orders for the book may ba sent wholesale i or at SAEONY'3, 680 Broadway ) and at 
B ARC ALOW 8, 76 Bowery, New York, ' 



General Washing ion viot orients. 







6. The Genius of America crowning General Grant with a wreath of 
Victory. May he prove like his illustrious predecessor General Washington, 
" first in Peace, as he now is, first in War, and first in the hearts of his grate- 
ful countrymen." 



filtered according to act of Congress, In the year 1839, 

bt p. coombs, 



la the Clerk's Office Of the District Cotirt cf the United States, for the Southern DiJtriet of 

New York. 



The Glorious Dawn of the Milleiiiiiiiiii ! ^c^ 



PKOCLAIM THE GLAD TIDINGS NOW USHEEED 
INTO THE ^YOELD 



MODEEN FEAIsTKLIlSr, 

Who has proven his mission by inventing and presenting as a* free gift to the 
great American people the beautiful Electro-Magnetic Telegraph, and the 
Electro-^Iagnctic motive and healing powers, in 1839, 1840, and 1849, respect- 
ively, three and ten years before the assembled wisdom of the nation appro- 
priated a dollar for the same beneficent and patriotic purposes. (For proofs 
sec pages GS and G9 — Pioneer of Phrenolog}-, 183G, Mesmerism, 1841, Daguer- 
reotj-pe, 1840.) Honored also by the distinguished titles of Washington the 
Second Conqueror, who has also proven his mission by coming up alive out of 
damp cellars, jails, etc., where it was death on rats to stay. (See Illustration 
Xo. 85, deceased rat, etc.) 

Delivered from threatened assassination in California, 1850, on the Isthmus, 
1852, and at Niagara Falls, 1857, he has also passed through the valley and 
the shadow of death, having been rescued insensible from both the destroying 
elements of lire and water whilst attempting to save the lives or property of 
others, and in the former case whilst thousands of his own property was being 
destroyed in spite of his protest, advice, and warning to jNlr. Wells, on top of 
his building, who to this day is paying the penalty for neglecting the most 
valuable advice ever given to him. But unfortunately he had too much confi- 
dence in the so-called fire-p^oof building ; could he but have seen that danger 
and followed F. Coombs' warning and example as proved by letters of II. W. 
Bradley and others (Xos. 8, 9, 10, 21), it would have been worth all the gold 
in California to ]Mr. W., and at least one other unfortunate who was burned 
to death rushing through the fiery furnace. F. Coombs would have shared the 
same fate had he rushed out with the crowd when the iron doors were with 
the greatest difficulty forced open only by the strength of the united crowd, 
but instead of rushing out pell-mell with others, he rushed back for some- 
thing to shield him from the hurricane of flame sweeping down Cla}'- street 
like a blowpipe, and most providentially he found an old hair mattress under 
the bank counter, which, in addition to a heavy cloak, protected him through 
the fiery blast, and returning consciousness found him seated on a man's knee, 
cloak, mattress, etc., all burnt, but he was saved entirely uninjured. (See p. 127.) 

His claims for such a beneficent mission are also greatly strengthened by 
many titles of honor, among which the titles of Union ^latrimonial Promoter, 
Free Ditcher the First, etc., he expended labor and gold to earn in 1850 and 
1852 (page 82 and letter 68). Strengthening his conviction that he has a still 



more glorious mission to perform, commenced by him above forty years ago, 
freely presenting the means to procure homesteads or wives for the millions of 
homeless Americans. 

Written by John Howard Payne, who never had a home : 

" 'Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, 
Bo it ever so humble, there's no place like Home 1 
A charm from the skj seoma to hallow us there, 
Which, seek through the world, is no'er met with «ls9frb«r« ! 

Homo, Home I sweet, sweet Home " 

There's no placo like Home I 

There's no place like Home !'' 




FREE HOMES FOR FREE AMERICA 



A Scene on the Overland trip to California. 

Glorious realization ! ! " When every man, and woman too, shall sit under 
their own vine and under their own fig-tree, and none to make them afraid." 
And yet to bring about this most glorious consummation it will only be neces- 
sary simply for others to perform that kind act once of more than Christian 
charity, because he did so unsolicited, and of his own free will and choice, 
remitting the means to two infant boys whom he had never seen nor ever 
expected to see, and their misery their only recommendation, yet sending 
these poor emigrants guns, which in the far West procured the poor family two 
hundred acres of wild land, making the whole family now rich, the full partic- 
ulars of which the author never became possessed of until about forty years 
after the gift. (See Marsh's letter. No. 71.) Before which time he had the 
pleasure of having twice repeated with much larger gifts, expressly to buy 
land for the landless, in 1851 and 1857, wholly unsolicited, the first and last 
remittances having both been to aid helpless infancy, and neither one ever 
seen by him, yet the last gift was a thousand gold dollars in value, mailed the 
day he left for the antipodes, 1857, where he lost everything by his exertions 
to reform the wicked Australians and ungrateful Californians by importing 
above fifty cases beneficial sciences and fine arts to those countries, all lost for 
want of a small aid and appreciation, the choicest and most valuable portion 
having been reshipped back to New York, which was totally destroyed by 
fire at Coe & Lawrence's large warehouse, corner of Cherry and Grand streets, 
September 19, 1865 (see N. Y. Tribune), prostrating him far greater than when 
burnt out three times in one year in San Francisco, 1850-51, because he then 
grabbed the gold dust the first thing on an alarm of fire, and saving that 
saved himself from ruin. (See Letters 5 to 10.) 




LET US HAVE PEACE. 




GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 1869. 




ACROSS THE CONTINENT. 




THE HONORABLE SCHUYLER COLFAX, VICEFRESIDEyi OF THE U. S,, l£^ 



' i 




strong resemblance of liis good little cousin Dinah, who saved her little orphan cousin from many an un« 
1 blow. 




(3) The author escorting home his first sweetheart Miss II. ;M. from a nut gathering expedition, or from 
|.ld Dame Yalles's Infant School, " but he never told his love." 




FRANKLIN 







THE LATE GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT. 

Ko. 2. The Hero of Two Wars ; as courteous, afiablc, and dignified in private 
life, as courageous and determined on the field of victory. See his superb 
phrenological measurements in Coombs' Popular Phrenology, 1841. 




'I Group of California Infants at Play in War:\i AVcATiinR. — The charming results of tlie happy 
muriraonial alliance made with F. Coombs' gold in 1850, it liaving been the lir.st mvestment he made in 
^\'ells' Building, 1S59, after having been twice burnt out in May and June same year. (See D. P. Eelkuap's 
'r page 98) 




• ^'*'^^' ''<^<<^///w///^^^ 



6 The man who '^an love such an animal 
can love aUnost OJi^'thiog. (Sec Letter 87.) 



''1';m"\;:--:' 




(7) The Saddler's fair daughter, Miss D., who wanted to marry the author [a baby at the Marsh's], 
which so scared him he ran and hid, when the company started a sixpenny subscription to embolden 
him to give the first kiss he ever gave a young Miss, the recollections of which first kiss (fifteen years 
£fter) induced him to send the guns to Marsh's two infant boys he had never seen, or expected to see, 

"but he heard the family were totally ruined, 1828, and which gift (two hundred acres of land) resulted 

•^60 happily for them. (See Marsh's letter, page 100.) 




(8) Washington, tlie father of his country : " First in war, first in peace, and first 
in the hearts of his countrymen." 




(9) The eldest of the U n family, on arriving in New York in 1828, on the charity of their 

tunt and cousin F. Coombs, who twenty-one years after was presented twenty dollars — amaz- 
,ing gratitude from a half millionaire. 




(13) Equestrian statue to be erected to the beautiful Canadian Joan of Arc 
Canada becomes elevated to the dignity of a sister republic. (See page 108.) 



when 




^10) England. — Semi-starvation of the 

Marsh and U n families in England, 1828, 

then recipients of the author's charities to 
help them here. '• The friend in need is the 
friend in deed," 



(11) America. — See next page, same fami- 
lies in affluence in America in 18C8 — one of 
them half millionaire; the other numbering 
t\vent3'-thrce, and still increasing, 1805, but 
■rratitudc diminishing. 




' "'"rdian angel appearing to St. Peter in prison. But verily we have no account that St. Peter had forgiven 
;ifemiuine crinoline above three hundred dollars in greenbacks, which the author undoubtedly had 

aia, before the vixen wickedly and most falsely swore him into jail, which seems a more aggravated 

K Peter's, because the author was living in a very damp and unhealthy cellar at the time he forgave her 
«nount. (Sec Jiuchan and "Wade's letter, page IOC',) 




(15) A wild Secessionist madly leaping out of the Union into an abyss of ruin. Thousands pub- 
lished and gratuitously distributed by F. Coombs, before the late rebellion, as a prophetic warning to 
tho suicidal robols. " But whom the gods intend to destroy they first make mad." 




Xo.l5 SeeFages^.lU.l^. 




(14) The bleeding genius of Poland and Hungary overwlielmed with grief 
for the loss of the nationalities of her dear native land and destruction of their 
liberties by their conquerors and tjTants, Russia, Austria, and Prussia. 

" Thou can'st not shake thy gory locks at me and say I did it, nor 
helped to do it. (See his affidavit refusing Russian honors and gold.) 




(Ui) APiouEER Mining Scene in the WiLCEaNEss. 




No. 18. Americans victorious in the land of the cactus and the vine— Mexico. 




No. 19. Americans victorious in the frozen regions of the north— Canada bearing aloft 
tie Star Spangled Banner almost from the_, equator to the poles. 



HE GREAT CHAMPAGNE RUNNER ARRIVEDI!! 

Cold Water benefactor to Jersey City, Chicago, Australia and Calijornia. 

is with great pleasure I can certify that F. Coombs, Esq., in July, 1852, invested Three Thousand Dollars to heir 
tg an abundance of pure water into Jersey City. j. B. Mayo 1 

4pn7 8, 1866. 303 Broadway, New York, 

San Francisco. California, January 6, 1859. 
take pleasure in commending F. Coombs' Series of Dissolving View Temperance Scenes to public favor. 

»"■ J. A. Bruner, Folsom Street M. E. Church. 

ndorsed by Rev. J. D. Bh^m, President, 195 Broadway, N. Y., Nov 10, 1867 ; and Rev. Tiios. S. King, of S. F. 
Eime at Hall of the Temperance League at Melbourne, Australia. John Edwards, Secretary. 

November 25, 1857. 



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Niagara River, 

150 foet below the Tree. 



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The Pioneer $100,00 Matrimonial Pro- 
moter, the Free Ditcher of California and 
the Great Champagne Runner, &c., volun- 
teering to risk a fall (150 feet), braving death by pain, hoping by carrying Niagara 
to tipplers to cool their fiery breath ; or, better still, to save them from a worse 
fate, a strychnine death. 

* A true name given him in a most delightful dream, introducing him to Heaven, 
Ladies, Dashaways, &c. SeeH. Hasseltine's Letter, 1850. 



'Si 



THE GREAT CHAMPAGNE RUNNER ARRIVED!!! 

Cold Water benefactor to Jersey City, Chicago, Australia and Calijornia. 

It is with great pleasure I can certify tbat F. Coombs, Esq., in July, 1852, invested Three Thousand Dollars to hek 
tig an abundance of pure water into Jersey City. j, 3^ Mayo 

4pn7 8, 1866. 303 Broadway, New Y(yrk. 

^ ^ , „ . ^^^ Francisco. California, Januarij 6, 1859. 

Itake pleasure in commending F. Coombs' Series of Dissolving View Temperance Scenes to public favor. 

/ J. A. Brdner, Fo/so/n Street HI. E. Church. 

Endorsed by Rev. J. D. Blm^, President, 195 Broadway, N. Y., Nov 10, 1867 ; and Rev. Tiios. S. King, of S. F. 
Same at Hail of the Temperance League at Melbourne, Australia Joun Edwards, Secrctaru 

November 25, 1857. 



Niagara River, 

150 foet below the Tree. 




The Pioneer $100,00 Matrimonial Pro- 
moter, the Free Ditcher of California and 
the Great Champagne Runner, Sec, volun- 
teering to risk a fall (150 feet), braving death by pain, hoping by carrying Niagara 
to tipplers to cool their fiery breath ; or, better still, to save them from a worse 
fate, a strychnine death. 

* A true name given him in a most delightful dream, introducing him to Heaven, 
Ladies, Dashaways, &c. Scs H. Hoiseltine's Letter, 1850. 



I b 

> S 



^ g^ 



CO ^ 

O o 

i ^ 

o 5 




21. America in War, victorious in the New World. 




18. 4 Imerica in Feace^ yiotoriooi in the Old World. 




23. Life in the country. Rural felicity. The family of Mr. B., of Catskill, taking their usual exercia 




24. Lif» in the city. The wrotched end of tho icobriata and smcida 




No. 25* Exhibiting the loves of tho representative of the Universal Yankeo Nation for th& 
poorest brutes in all creation. 







26* One of the Earliest Settlers. in our extreme Northern Possessions. 



Forty-three Years of Glorious Patriotism all around 

the World. 

Ili<2:lily iutcrcstiri;,' and correct fac similes of the autographs of not onlj 
the most distinguished, t)ie liiglicst legal, official, military, civil, clerical 
find aristocratic authorities from thrce-{iuarter.s of the Globe, but also the 
most flattering und highly encouraging letters, from spirit land, in the 
possession of Frederick Coombs, for his great self-sacrificing, and almast 
luperhuman exertions to enlighten and elevate the condition of sufifering 

His Excellency F. F. Low. Governor of California, 1865, recommends F. 
Coombs fur having been the $100 Matrimonial Union Pioneer rromotor. 
R'lien 100 vara citv lots were half that sr.m. 




VTt bfts nearly one tlionsairi f>Titojjraj)hs an«l letters of gratitude, recommendations, &c. 

His Excellency Leland Stanford, wheaGovernor of California, recommends F. 
Joombs for having re[)resented the State for a Charity at Chicago at his owr. 
vost, fall of 1852. to promote fem.ale emi<,'r;;rion, etc.. to (benofitj California. 



/t/ 




^(^<^-^' 



His Excellency John G. Downey, when Governor, recommend.^ F. Coombs 
;'or having been the Yolnnteer Free Pioneer Ditcher of California, paying liis 
)wn board and almobt forget 
tinpr it. 



^-^^nJ^. .^/lA^. 



G. Wright, Bri^.-General U. S. A., Military Commander of Califor 

ma, recommends F. Coombs for his having been the Union Banner Bearev o! 
California, storming the 
Broom Rangers in flank or 
rear, and saving an Union 
lefender from a Shylock. 



f 




Tlje liev. Thomas Starr King, for F, 
Champagne Itunner of California, 



Coombs, having been the Great Pioneer 

6 



J 



c/ 



Gen. G. Wa.?hington, from Sjint I^nd, guiding F. Coombs to give gold t« 
■)uy homes for the homeless y^ ^' 

poor in both the Old and 
Sew ^Vorlds, before himself. 




a4. kJ( Jf^ 




The Prince of California Editors, M. 
M. Noah, extols F. C. to the skies, lor 
his great Christian kindness and t'oi- 
giveness to the Hebrew Greenback 
Madam, 1864. 

Joseph Lush (the highly aristocratic E.in's Cousin) dearly loves his cousin 
Freddy, because he was cozzened so easily ut' his Estate, and made a Plough 
Boy by the aristocratic H. Lush, whilst the family were paid ten times that 
amount for their Orphan Cousin's board. 

They may prefer retribution to restitution, but let the fate of English Jim, 
the cruel rancli-man, the aristocratic rebels, and others, who have been 
cruelly unjust to F, C, 

be a warning. It is ^,^^^ -^ 

never too late to mend. .-'<!^^^^<^^:?^''''''^i 

^^^^^ 

P. S.— As a set off to this, it is but fair to add, all his 40 female cousins 
were kindness and chari'ty personified, 

Charles Duncombe, the Canadian Patriot and Exile, expresses himself truly 
grateful for F. Coombs publishing appeals for tlie poor Exiles in N". Y., ]840, 
for which F. C. was published as beingr in Jail, and mobbed out of Canada, 
1842. destroying his 
fine business there. ^ j^ ^ 

The Mexican Consul in New York, grateful forF. Coombs publishing appeals 
in behalf of poor Mexico in 1847, when it was ruinously unpopular to do so. 






Theope Weigall, the highest law officer of the British Crown in Australia, 
for F. Coombs, scientific and temperance aids to that country, 1857, grants 
him special privileges. 




Grace Coombs, his spirit mother, greatly comforts him in his having been 
8o greatly ill used, yet having been more than once a thous- 
and dollar comforter to the sick or distressed — Grass widows 




2^/^ 



s^ 




(:>-(^<^ 




P S.— The Carte de Visite and the Ditcher's Original Poem, etc., are for 
sale'for the benefit of the Free Ditcher Matrimonial Promoter, &c., to enable 
him to settle down after forty-three years' tour around the Globe on a mis- 
sion of love. — Patronize him sure 1 







57, 60, 69, 71. 

Autograph let- 
ters received in 
proof of remit- 
ting gold, etc., to 
buy lands for the 
poor landless 
ones in Euiope 
and America, in 
1828, 1851, and 
1857. but never 
yet for self, 1869. 



.S^ 



v. 



S) 



£_ ^^^ri^^^-i-^-^^^^^-^ 






'u^<^JL<j^Cl' 



^Wv^ 



TITLES FROM THE PACIFIC COAST. 



Frvm the San Francisco P. GazatU, March 6ih, 1862. 
"Professor Coombs has recommendations from some of the best men in our nation, and we hay* 
•oen the autograph signatures of two or three Governors, a dozen Judges, fifteen Keverends, twentf 
Editors and a long list of Merchants, kc." 

Other titles than the following may have been awarded him, by the kind 
Editors, and unseen by him. The following have caught his eye : — 

The San Francisco Call, May 8, 1861, " The Modern Franklin^ The 
^. F. Call, June 13, 1861, " The Distinguished Philanthropist S. F. 
Evening B-ilU'^^in, February 21, \^Q2, '' The Second Washington.^^ S. F. 
Police Gazette. February 6, 1864, " Uncle Freddy^ the Pioneer Ditch 
Digger^ who his given away thousands of dollars to poor ladies to assist 
ihem in getting married!'^ S. F. Call, February 6, 1864, " Washington the 
Second in Limbo." (See the Pictorial Jovial Rats above.) The S. F. 
Bulletin, February 10, 1864, " Washington the Second^ Conqueror." S. F, 
Bulletin, February 10, 1864, " Washington the Second triumphantly re- 
leased:' The S. F. Alta, California, February 17, 1864, *' Tko Pioneer 
Ditcher of Napa has given the world another proof of his boundless 
patriotism and benevolence.''^ The California Demokrat, February 19, 
1864 (translated), " Our noble Philosopher^ Uncle Coombs^ or Washington 
the Second^ has acted most nobly:'' The American Flagg, S. F., October 16, 
1864, " Washington and his Banner:'' The New York Christian Enquirer, 
October 1, 1864, " The gray hair and benign and noble face of Uncle 
Freddy^ when attired in full Continental costume^ is the very picture of one 
of our Revolutionary noblemen:^ 



RECOMMENDATIONS FEOM THE ATLANTIC COAST. 

F. CooMBfl 1b recommended by the following distinguished gentlemen and 1,000 othew on th« 
ItUntic coast 




C^^X^ ^^t.^^-^'^^^-vv^^ 



General U. S. Army, Member from MoisachutetU. 




Bria. Gen. U. S. Army, and lineal descendant of Ben;'. Fkaukun. 1088 Spruce SL. 

By carefully adding together the above and twice as many more 
titles since discovered, they foot up nearly an Angel, See letter, No. 50. 54* 



30 

After twenty years' acquaintance I ttink I^. Coombs has shown himself 
more tender-hearted than any lady, and richly deserves William Penn's old 
house and lot, Philadelphia, Nov, 26, 1866. 

F. Langenheim, 722 Chesnut street, Philadelphia, 
Jno. a. McAllister. 728 Chesnut street, Philadelphia, 
and hundreds of other distinguished Philadelphians, including the above j also 
General Banks, of Massachusetts. 

The following are extracts from nearly fifty letters in F. Coombs' posses- 
sion, from grateful relatives, knowing him best for above fifty years : 

Mrs. Hindley's letter, April 16, 1851," JiJ was indeed^ my dear brother^ a very 
handsome present^ £50." Mrs. Hindley's letter January 1, 1853, " JZe will treat 
you like the son of a prince.'''' Mrs. Sarah White, February 15, 1857, " Accepty 
also, of many thanks for the sewing machine." A. Coombs letter, April 14, 1857, 
" Such a good, kind brother." William and Dinah Marsh's letter, January 6, 
1859, " Doj cousin, come and make our house pour future home." Mrs. E. Hindley's 
letter, November 27, 1859, "J am very proud that I have such a brother." 
Joseph Lush's letter, September 12, 1862, " Dear Fred., there is no person in 
this world I should be more pleased to see once more in the flesh." 

Fifty Editorial Titles of Honor from all Around the World ! 

In corroboration of the above, and on a more diligent research among old 
papers, letters, etc., F. Coombs has discovered a feio more titles, etc., which he 
most respectfully submits for approval, hoping they will show to some extent 
if he has not invested in houses and lands he has invested to benefit others, 
he hopes even to the uttermost parts of the earth (Australia) ; hoping Congress 
or the friends of matrimony or philanthropy will appreciate some of these in- 
vestments by a just compensation for above forty years' severe labors and great 
outlays for suffering humanity. J. Thome's letter, February 13, 1868, (15) 
" The Pioneer Promoter of Emigration" directly, and matrimony indirectly, 
1828. Letters of J. W. Chambers, Secretary A. I., and James E. Cooly, Esq., 
78 Fifth Avenue, New York, (16) " A Pioneer of the beneficent Electro- Magnetic 
Power," in the Koyal Gallery of Science, London, England, June, 1838. The 
National Intelligencer, January 28, 1840, in Congressional Library at the capi- 
tol, and letter from Mayor Wallach and others of Washington, D. C, dated 
August 9, 1866, (see pages 67, 68,) clearly proves F. Coombs to have been not 
only the original inventor, but free giver and (17) " Pioneer of the first public 
Telegraph" exhibited in the United States, carrying not only messages but 
passengers by the same galvanic battery. Such free gifts to the sovereign 
people of these United States surely will be reciprocated, as he made both 
powers self-sustaining and remunerating, never even asking for a patent 
monopoly. Letters of R. M. Johnson, Ex Vice-President of the United States, 
1840, and the National Intelligencer, March 9, 1840, (18) '^ A Pioneer of the 
Science of Phrenology and the Daguerreotype," at Washington, D. C. The Tory 
Press of Montreal, Canada, about September 1, 1842, (19) " A dangerous, sedi- 
tious person," safely lodged in jail by Captain Comeau. Letter of the patriot 
Charles Duncombe, Hick's Ranch, California, March 12, 1859, (20) " The noble 




(2^) Captain Drake — hospitality received by the California Indian king and 
ambassadors in the autumn of 1579. 



31 

defender of poor exiled patriots ^^^ 1842. Letters of General Van Rensselaer, Jr., 
and others in the Albany Argus, October 10, 1842, (21) « The Pioneer of the heneft- 
cent Science of Mesmerism,''^ in the capital of Empire State. Troy Daily Whig, 
November 14, 1842, (22) " Pioneer of the Sciences in New York, the wilds of 
Arkansas and Mississiiypi,'' 1837. Troy Daily Whig, November 19, 1842, (23) 
* Curer of Diseases hy Mesmerism?^ Appendix to his Phrenology, 1847, (24) 
" Tlie heggar for poor invaded Mexico^ The Chicago Tribune, 1848, (25) " The 
Pioneer jrrojector of the Pacific Railroad on the free homestead plan?^ Same paper, 
1848, (26) " Discoverer of electricity a cure for cholera,'''' saving his own and 
many lives. Letters of L. Skinner and I. Swift, bankers, San Francisco, 
January 24, 1860, ^27) " Tenant of 1850," industrious, honest, faithful, and tem- 
perate. Letters of introduction to California Legislature by Hon. Caleb Bur- 
bank and six other judges and mayors of San Francisco, endorsed by John G. 
Downey, every civil and military Governor up to 1865, till he left California, 
(28) " The Pioneer of the fine arcs in San Francisco, 1849 ; and also on his return to 
California in 1858." Mr. Coombs bore while here "a high character for kind- 
ness, energy, and skill in his professions." By letters of A. S. Evans and other 
Chicagoians, (29) " Volunteer Representative of California,''^ by her rarest golden 
and other beautiful products for charit}' at Chicago, fall of 1852. From the 
Democratic Standard, Sacramento City, March 30, 1860, (30) " His conduct 
toward the fair sex,'" and self-sacrificing devotion, was truly sublime. Open 
letters of introduction by American-Scotch poetess, (31) " God-like in thought, 
vord, and act^ (Offered to marry her of course.) Tlio Evening Mail, ^Icl- 




l^^OJ V^Af i. \r UUUJU IvUUliiKS i.AJNUlJNOr IJN CAL,li" ORNIA, NoV., 1709. 



32 



bourne, Australia, Saturday, May 8, 1858, (32) " The missionary of arts and 
sciences,'''' and (33) " Teacher of the beautiful and true J' Letter from American- 
Scotch poetess, 1860, (34) "^n earthly god amongst themJ^ Custom-House 
Records, San Francisco, October 30, 1858, (35) ^'■Importer of fifty-one cases 
scientific and artistic beneficial apparatus, particularly temperance il lustrations J^ 
H. Hazletine's letter, San Francisco, February 12, 1860, (36) " The great cham- 
pagne runner.''^ Given also in a most delightful dream. The Sacramento 
Union, and letters from Sacramento, California, 1860. (37) Free lecturer for 
an Atlantic and Pacific Railroad on the free-homestead plan. Autographs of 
forty-five editors and artists. (38) "^4 sovereign American prince in gener- 
osity.'' Morning Call, Feb. 15, 1862, (39) ''Washington No. 2- or, Uncle 
Freddy Coombs J' Daily Evening Bulletin, February 21, 1862, (40) " the 
second Washington.''^ California Police Gazette, March 8, 1862, (41) " The 
pioneer artist of the State of California, 1862." (42) " The profound Phrenolo- 
gist, great Philanthropist, and an accomplished ArtistJ' The Daily Morning 
Call, February 10, 1864, (43) " Uncle Freddy all right !'' San Francisco Even- 
ing Bulletin, February 10, 1864, (44) « Free Ditcher the First.''' The Alta 
California, February 17, 1864, (45) « The Matrimonial Union Promoter.'''' San 
Francisco Evening Bulletin, March 25, 1864, (46) " The venerable patriot.'^ 
Letter of John C. Bell and others, April 20, 1864, (47) " The Union Standard 
Bearer of California.'" The American Flag, California, October 19, 1864, (48) 
" The Matrimonial Promoter." (49) " Washingto7i and his banner." From 
the Newark Daily Advertiser, Tuesday evening. May 22, 1866, (50) " The 



^'^^^^g^s^/:^^,.. 




(26) Indians under Christian tuition by a blind Indian, wlio was assisted by 
an alcalde to keep order. 



33 

Matrimonial Promoter and free Ditcher." The Sunday Herald, TVashington, 
D. C, August 6, 18GG, (51) " The Pioneer of the Electric Telegraph,'^ etc., 
1840. Philadelphia Enquirer, November 7, 18G6, (52) " The first Telegraph 
Operator in America, 1840." (53) " California Matrimonial Promoter, 1850." 
The Saratoga Republican and Sentinel, September 13, 18G7, (54) " The 
Pioneer of the Telegraph, 1840.'' (55) " Matrimonial Promoter and Free 
Ditcher, 1852. From the Saratogian, Saratoga Springs, September 19, 1867, 
(56) "He has lived so entirely for the benefit of others that he well deserves the 
name of philanthropist '^ The Troy AYhig, October 1, 1867,(57) "J curcr 
by electricity, November 19, 1842." Albany Evening Journal, October 3, 
1867, (58) " His generous philanthropy.^^ The Brooklyn Dail}^ E^^glc, January 
6, 1868, (59) '■'• Offered free use of thirty-seven sewing machines^ 1853," for poor 
women. The Jersey City Times, February 1, 1868, (60) " The Pioneer helps 
to bring Passaic water in this city." Baltimore American, January 22, 1868, 
(61) " A Pioneer of electro-magnetic power, 1839." 

P. S. — By adding all these titles together it will present complete evidences 
of Scriptural rule, " Do unto others as ye would that others should do unto 
you." 

Comparing the above and the Montreal editorial, 1842, and Dr. Duncombe's 
letter, it will be seen that, like General Washington, while fighting the cor- 
ruptions of the old tory (British) government with one hand, F. C. was feed- 
ing her victims, poor widows and orphans, with the other. "Would .Mr. Secesh 
say " that was positively sublime." 







*-'<*^*<C--'<;^ 



(27) Father Garzes Teaching Indians. — The fascinated Indians, on seeing 
the Virgin, usually exclaimed, good j but the devil bad. 



34 



Pen & Ink Portrait of F. Coomk, 

PIONEER OF THE WILDERNESS, 1832 AND OF 
CALIFORNIA, 1849. 



Whilst the literary world is literally deluged with works of fiction, it will 
be the ambition of the author or compiler of the following pages to render 
this mosc beneficent, romantic and strange history of a pioneer of the wil- 
derness in 1832 and up to 1849 the Pioneer artist of San Francisco so forti- 
fied and authenticated by the highest tribunals in the land where occurring 
as to carry conviction to all, occurring in that land where poor human 
nature both literally and figuratively, passed through the fiery ordeal 
several times a year, and the author having been most miraculously pre- 
served alive every time, hopes to show his gratitude to the divine author of 
all good by attempting to fulfil a mission he commenced forty years since, 
providing the poor ones of earth with homesteads and wives ; great, vital 
and absorbing questions, (and which underlies evei*y other great social evil) 
he deems it necessary above all things to present his character and ante- 
cedents, as witnessed by and known to his brother artists and pioneer gov- 
ernors, judges and mayors, etc., of California at that period of California's 
history v/hich literally " tried men's souls." 

The following was handed him on his application to the Legislature for 
a. small pecui)iary aid to save the beneficial importation he made to Cali- 
fornia as further detailed. 

(No. 0.) San Francisco, A'pril 8, 1859. 

To the up.n Francisco delegation in the Legislature of California. 

Gentlemen: — Allow me to introduce to your acquaintance and atten- 
tion F. Coom1 -:, Fso., a Pioneer Daguerrean and Phrenologist of this city, 
•uiiom I knew ikvorably in 1851. 

Mr, Coombs bore while here a high character for integrity, kindness, 
( Di'igy and skill in his profession. He has been for some time absent from. 




(28) The early pioneers crossing tlie plains (winter of 1848) perishing in the 
gnows of the Sierra Nevada mountains. 



35 

the State until recently, he has returned to renew and revive his California 
life and better his condition. 

He has a project on hand which he can best explain to you, and 
will properly appreciate any legislative aid that you may think him 
entitled to. I am very respectfully Your obedient servant, 

D. O. Shattuck. 

I cheerfully concur with Judge Shattuck in what he has written in behalf 
of ;Mr. Coombs, and consider him worthy the patronage and favor he 
asks. M. H. McAllister, R. H. Waller, etc. 

Law Office of Shattuck, Spencer & Reichart, ) 
(No. 1.) 102 ]\Ierchai^t, St., San Francisco, Nov. 29, 1859. J 

To whom it may concern. 

I have examined some of the documents and correspondence of P. 
Coomlxs, Esq., at his request, and from those papers as well as from my per- 
sonal knowledge of F. Coombs, Esq., I think he has been a very benevolent 
man, and has injured his pecuniary condition by assisting his friends. That 
he is a worthy man and deserves the sympathies of his kind in whatever 
enterprize he may engage. D. O. Shattuck. 

FREIGHT OF PIONEER ARTIST ON HIS RETURN, HOPING TO 
BENEFIT CALIFORNIA. 

District of San Francisco, Oct. 30, 1858. 

Name of vessel, " Glimpse "—F. COOMBS, 51 packages Scientific and 
Artistic Apparatus. Copied, book G. U. N. S. Appraisers Store, Dec. 
21, 1860. George Peck, Storekeeper. 

To tlie Governor and Hon. Legislature of California, assembled, and the 

Public in General : Frederick Coombs, Pioneer Artist of San Francisco, 
most respectfully invites attention to the following and other recommenda- 
tions in his possession : 

1st. Embracing those of the highest official and judicial authorities of 
California, recommending him for his benevolence ; having now proofis is 




(29) Broken-down emigrant trains — extreme suffering of the emigrants to 
California, by the overland route, in 1848. 



36 

this city extending ten years past, assisting sick and distressed Americans, 
in gold, hundreds and a thousand dollars at a time, all for love j 

The following extract from his petition, dated February 10th, 1860, (after 
receiving Duncombe's letter of 1859) to the Legislature, handed to D. W. 
Welty, Esq., member for Sacramento, exhibits his ardent love for our glori- 
ous Union : 

F. Coombs flatters himself that by these, his antecedents as a pioneer 
of California, it will be proven that such has been his self-denying and ex- 
traordinary love for the North and the South, that if there is an impending 
crisis, and if required, he is perfectly Tvilling, in a spirit of love, to present 
his unarmed, unoffending body as a target and shield for the protection of 
our beloved Union, whether the would-be assassin comes from the North 
or from the South, from the East or from the West. 

Your petitioner to your honorable body almost believes he bears a 
charmed life, for from both the elements of fire and water, he has been 
rescued insensible and half suffocated attempting to save the lives or prop- 
erty of others, in both cases, he having been the last and only one escaping 
unhurt from a building on fire. 

May, 1851, H. W. Bradley, Duguerreian, Clay Street. 

Is not this a perfect Washington ? Where in this world besides can such 
love be matched ? only by Washington. 

I^^Extract from Mrs. C. M. Kirkland's Memoirs of Washington, Page 164, 
(Appleton's.) " The murder of helpless families may be laid to my account 
here. The supplicating tears of the women and the moving petitions of 
the men melt me into such a deadly sorrow that I solemnly declare if I 
know my own mind I could offer myself a willing sacrifice to the butchering 
enemy, provided that would contribute to the people's ease. 

B^^This expression of perfect willingness to die for our glorious Union 
was most singularly verified three years later by the following incident: alone 
carrying the flag into the ranks of its worst enemies, the roughs and, seceq- 




(30) Entbance of the Golden Gate to the Bay of San Feancisco. 



Bionists of San Francisco, 1864, the same in Montreal, Canada, 1842. 

G. Wright, Brig.-General U. S. A., Governor and Militaiy Commander of 
California, recommends F. Coombs for his having been the Union Banner- 
Bearer of California, storming the Broom Rangers in flank and rear, and 
saving a Union defender from a Shvlock. 

THE UNION STANDARD-BEARER OF CxVLIFORN^A. 
(NTo. 2.) (Copy of Proofs.) 

To Mr. F. COOMBS : 

Dear Sir: When I read the account in the papers (just before the late 
election for President) I was grcatl}'^ surprised to learn that the rabid seces- 
sionists had not murdered you for carrying our glorious Union or Lincoln 
and Johnson Banner into the Broom Rangers or Secessionists processions, 
and which feat, I think, fairly entitles you to the distinction of having been 
the Union Standard-Bearer of California, where forever may it wave o'er 
" this land of the free and the home of the brave." 

Henry M. Blcmenthal. 
Original House, Sacramento Str., San Francisco, April 29, 18Go. 

We saw the above incident, — risking his life. W. H. Smith. 

Ben Cotton, Master Bennie, Joe Mur^^hy. I saw these signers write their 

names, H. E. Parmelle, 

Sworn to before me this 23d June, 18G6, Washington City, D. C. 

J. H. HoLLiNGSHEAD, Justicc of tlic Pcacc. 
Corroborated by W. Shattuck, 650 Market. J. Tornbom, U. S. E. Comanche, 
John C. Bell, Carpets, cor. Sansome and Cala. Streets. H. Bush, M. 

D., cor. Saco and Kearney Streets. J. Somerindike, Washington, D. C. 
P. S. — The following was inscribed on the Union Standard above alluded 

to " FREE DITCHER the First, or WASHINGTON the Second, votes 

for the Rail-Splitter, Lincoln and Johnson." 
F. Coombs also elected honorary member of the Wide Awake Republican 

Club of California, Oct. 22, 1863. Chab. E. Bratton, Cor. Sec'y. 





(31) Cei^ebbation of the Fourth of July, 1836, at the Co\T3 of ^zkba 

BUENA, THE FUTUEE SaN FeANCISCO. 



38 



Search closely and well the whole history of Man, 

And for Love ! why equal the Pioneer's course if you can. 



loob; at this pictture, 

Tlie following highest testimony 
in California, certify to F. Coombs 
assisting poor miners at one time, 
$1,000. 
His Excellency, John G. Downey, 

Gov. of Cal. 
Hon. D. O. Shattuck, 
Hon. W. W. Cope, 
Hon. H. Hall McAllister, 
Hon. C. Burbank, 
Hon. John McHenry, 
Hon. R. H. Waller, 
Rev. T. S. King, 
Rev. J. A. Bruner, 
Sen. J. H. McDougall, 
F. Washington, Collector, 
Hon. Mayor of San Francisco, 
Mayor Coon of San Francisco, 
The Honorable H. T. Teschemacher, 
Mayor of San Francisco, 
Hon. Mayor of Sacramento, 
Hon. Mayor of Placerville, 
Three Supervisors of Napa County, 
Hon. Mayor of San Jose, 
Att'y Gen. of Victoria, and 20 Edi- 



AKD THEN ON THIS. 

The undersigned, certify knowing 
F. Coombs intimately as a Pioneer, 
never to indulge loosely on himself 
this much, $0001. 
Francis Dix ey, 625 Washington 

Street, 
J. Everard, Esq. 
H. Hasseltine, Esq., No. 6 Front 

Street, 
Ward Eaton, Esq, of Riddle & Co. 

E. S. Aldrich, M. D. 

H. Austin, M. D., 182 Washington 
Street, 

His integrity, by 
Lucius Skinner, Esq., Banker, 
Frank Turk, Esq. 
Gregory Yale, Esq. 
H. Clarkson, Esq. 

For Industiy. 
A. Williams, Esq. 

F. Marriott, Esq. 

Calm Intrepidity. 
W. H. Bradley. 




(32) Sutter's Mill at Coloma, the spot where Gold was first Discoveked, 
IN 1848, BY Mb. Marshaul- 



39 

tors, and 30 Pioneers, 
D. H. Walton, 
Joseph Crackbon,San Francisco, Feb. 

6th, 1862. 

Since the above elate F. Coombs has received the endorsement of every 
Governor of California and many rich Bankers in San Francisco and New 
York with thousands of others for patnotisms. 



GOLDEN SUBSCRIBERS. 

ALL PAID IN ADVANCE, SOME UNASKED : 

^fayor H. F. Teschemacher, General Vallejo, 

Hon. C. Burbank, P. Sather, Esq., 

John Parrott, B. Davidson, 

Louis McLane, J. W. Wilde, 

J. A. Donahue. Fredk. A. Woodworth, 

D. Norcross, Jas. Lick, 

Dr. Bourne, B. Dean, 

O. Gori, of San Francisco. 



W. Butler, Duncan, Fisk and Hatch, of New York. He would like a 
few more such subscribers for his Books, in advance. F. C. 

The following queries were the first allusions ever made to helping others 
nor the complete answers perhaps received up to 1868, as he is occasionally 
reminded of kindnesses forgotten by him : 

QUESTIONS IN 1858. ANSWERS IN 1862. 

The following is an exact reprint The following endorsement by his 
of questions projDoundcd by Fred, fellovr-artists, and lOoO others may 



Coombs' return to California, after 
having been robbed and disgusted in 
Australia, dated December 24, 1858 : 



be considered the most conclusive evi- 
dences of their truthfulness, and ex- 
hibiting also he had at that time for- 




(33) The old City Hotel, corner of Kearney and Clay streets, after standing 
unscathed through three fires, fell at the fourth on May 4, 1851. In the spring 
of 1849 this building was leased out at sixteen thousand dollars per annum. 



40 



Questions — co niinued. 
and the first time he ever published 
any appeal, or supposed he had ever 
done any kindness, but others would 
do the same for him. 

Who would believe he had been 
burnt out three times in one year, 
1850 and 1851, whilst doing the fol- 
lowing and many more volunteer 
kindnesses with gold. 

A Nut for California Pioneers to 
Crack. 

Hearing an upstart vain person ob- 
serving that most of the old Pioneers 
had either run away, been ruined, or 
deserved to be, permit me to attempt 
refuting this wholesale slander, by 
asking him if the old "spirit of '76'' 
must not have actuated some of the 
early adventurers like this one. 

$100. Bid not F. C. on more than 
one occasion, loan to burnt-out mer- 
chants the above, expressly agreeing 
to ask no interest or obligation what- 
ever, and but very small security? 
Mr. lieynolds says yes. 

$500. Did not F. C. repay this 
sum to Dr. — r, who had generously 
paid it to preserve the Original Cali- 
Cornia Museum ? 



Answers — continued. 
gotten the Free Ditching Enterprise 
of 1852, and the house and lot to a 
poor woman of Ohio in 1857, and 
some other similar incidents. 



We, the undersigned, brother 
artists of F. Coombs, Esq., the '49 
Pioneer Daguerreian of San Francis- 
co, knowing him best and most inti- 
mately, do hereby most heartily in- 
dorse the high testimonials accompa- 
nying this, and the certificates of more 
than twenty editors, and many well- 
known artists and scientific gentle- 
men of San Francisco, that when a 
Pioneer here, "He preferred to live 
like a beggar to enable him to give 
like a Prince, — and thus being most 
worthy to assume the costume of the 
illustrious founder of our glorious 
Republic." Being fully satisfied of 
these remarkable self-sacrifices for 
others' good, and therefore feeling it 
a duty to the public, most respectfully 
join in the accompanying Petition to 
the Governor and Hon. Legislature ; 
also recommending to the Atlantic 
and Pacific Steam Navigation Co. to 
tender him a free passage to the 
World's Fair and returning, as most 
richly deserving these favors by hie 




^^^^^■'s'? - Mi 











^^^a^S 




^':^' 



(34) The Rush for the Gold Diggings. — Early in io48 the most extrava- 
gant stories of sudden wealth acquired in the mines reached San Francisco, 
and in a short time there was a regular stampede. 



41 



Dr. — r will say yes. 

$25r Did not F. C. give the above 
to a brother Pioneer, on his telling him 
he had eaten only tobacco that day ? 
F. C. had previously known him re- 
ceiving $6,000 per month fur one hotel 
on the Plaza. He also owned other 
property. The fires of ^51 swept all 
away. 

$550. Did not F. C. give $300 
cash, and $250 apparatus, &c., to a 
most distressed artist, who had ex- 
pended more than his last dollar in 
Sainting California scenes, but which 
Ir. B. F. Butler previously pro- 
nounced, as works of art, most worth- 
less? B. F. Butler says yes. 

$1,000. Did not F. C. advance 
the above to two miners, hard up, at 
the old Franklin Il^tel, to assist de- 
veloping the "Old Dominion Quartz 
Lead," at Rough and Ready, receiv- 
ing only in return the very liberal 
promises of stock from Messrs. Loomis 
and Carpenter? Is he not waiting 
for some noAv ? 

Nr. Walton, former landlord of 
Franklin Hotel, answers yes. 



very liberal expenditures ten years 
since, and by exhibiting free, for a 
Charity, the most beautiful and grand 
productions of this State, of his own 
free will and cost — thus honoring the 
State— doing that gratuitously and at 
great loss which the State now pro- 
pose partly doing. This, with many 
other patriotic voluntary acts, has im- 
poverished him — particularly the im- 
portation by him of over fifty packages 
of artistic and scientific apparatus on 
his return in 1858. Thus having ex- 
pended his all on patriotism, the pro- 
visions of the Constitution seem clear- 
ly to entitle him to legislative aid, as 
follows: Article IX., "The Legisla- 
ture shall promote, by all suitable 
means, the intellectual, scientific, mo- 
ral, and agricultural improvements."* 
Said importation has been greatly 
wasted, for want of means to place it 
in proper position ; for which purpose 
the subscri])ers pray the Legislature 
will grant him some aid, or commis- 
sion him to the World s Fair — or the 

* On Agriculture, is he not recommended 
by Supervisors of Napa for pay, as a Vol 
unteer Ditcher, in 1852 ? 




(35) The Hounds. — A lawless band of desperadoes, wlio committed all 
sorts of outrages with impunity. Their dwellings were dens of infamy j but 
at length suppressed by the first Vigilance Committee, 1849. 



42 



Questions — continued. 

$100. Bid he not loan or give $80 
aash, $20 pictures, to assist the poor 
fellow, Geo. Pierson, who was per- 
fectly crazy to get married, for which 
the Pioneer received neither interest 
nor principal, scarcely thanks ? 

Mr. Belknap, he thinks, answers 
yes. 

$143. Bid not F. C. present a free 
gift of this amount to the poorest of 
the poor, unsolicited, unacknowledged, 
and unknown, to the intended recipi- 
ents thereof? 

Edwards Sanford & Co.'s letter prove 
this. 

In relation to the gift, he wrote to 
Queen Vic. from Australia, to inform 
her that by the liberality of the Ame- 
ricans, he had in this, and many other 
cases, relieved Her Majesty's subjects, 
shown by the following: 

The following also corroborates an 
English widow lady's appreciation of 
the appalling difficulties of a sewing- 
machine prerentod her by F. C. in 
1853. 



Answers — continued. 
whole importation will be nearly a 
ruin to him and a loss to the State at 
large. 

C. L. "Weed, late Vance's, corner 
Montgomery and Sacra- 
mento. 

"W. H.TowNE, Washington Street. 

P. G. Clark, corner Clay and 
Kearny Streets. 

J. F. Hastings, printer at R. H. 
Vance's. 

R F. LovERiNG, late Hamilton & 
Lovering. 

J. W. Bryan, 611 Clay Street. 

G. B. Morse, Jas. W. Ford, Wm. 
Thwaites, Silas Selleck, 
N. Y. Johnson, 107 Mont- 
gomery Street. 

W. Dyer, Clay Street. 

J. C. W. Vaughan, 643 Clay 
Street. 

J. Shew, Montgomery Street. 

J. J. Wiggins, late of Buffalo. 

A. P. Johnson, 185 Clay Street. 

H. V. Bush, corner Kearny and 
Com'l Streets. 

W. F. Bayley, H. J. May, corner 




^^aV^ 



(3fi) The second great fire, on May 4, 1850. See F. Marriott's letter. 
F. Coombs having just removed from next door to where it commenced, or 
would have lost everything. 



43 



(No. 3.) 

"Accept also of many thanks for 
the sewing-machine, but I fear wo 
shall not be able to dispose of it, (as 
you advise.) I think no one would 
buy it, without seeing what it would 
do. I assure you my head is far too 
muddled with busy cares to see through 
anything half so intricate as that." 

(No. 4.) 

From a distressed orphan whom F. 
C. relieved in New York. 

** Such language could only ema- 
nate from a heart all goodness, all 
purity and kind feelings towards your 
fellow-beings ; but more especially to- 
wards those who weep the ills of this 
most eventful life. 

" May all the good angels above 
bless you for the same, and when this, 
our first life, is o'er, beckon your 
pure and noble spirit to their bright 
abode, where all is joy and etern'*^ 
Uappinesr " 



Sacramento and Kearny 

Streets. ■ 
Thos. J. IIiGGiNS, George Fiske, 

corner Clay and Kearny 

Streets. 
Alex. Euouard, Washington 

Street, (over twenty years' 

acquaintance.) 
James Johnson, certifies that F. 

Coombs, when a Pioneer, was 

burnt out three times in one 

year, on Clay Street. 

Abridged Extract. 

The following extract from a letter ex- 
hibits a greater amount of justice and 
generosity from a poor widow and spin- 
ster than as yet received from forty rich 
relations, living partly on his charity 
forty years past, added to that of forty 
distinguished bankers, millionaires, etc., 
owning or controlling above one hundred 
millions, to whom F. C. has written or 
applied personally for reciprocity : 

" Mabket Place, Frome, { 

"Somerset, May 24:, 1SC8. j 



•' My Deat. Brother— Did you ever receive £10 we sent to you at California 
by Mr, Zoni, son-in-law of Mrs. Knight. Please tell us. 

" Your affectionate sister, E. Hindlkt." 




(37) Great Fire June 14, 1850. — The third great fire occurred early in the 
morning of the 14th June, and commenced in the rear of the Sacramento 
House, which F. Coombs was just entering for breakfast, when looking up he 
saw smoke issuing through the roof. 



44 



A FAINT DESCRIPTION OF THE THEEE GEEAT FIRES 
SAN FRANOISOO IN 1850 AND 1851. 



(No. 5.) 

This will certify that I had to stop F. Coombs nailing down his carpet in 
his office at eleven o'clock at night, waking up the lodgers in Cross's Building, 
on Clay-street, which he had just ready to open as a Daguerrean Gallery, but 
which was burnt down following morning at four o'clock. F. Marriott. 

San Francisco, IWi Nov., 1859. 

" News Letter Office," San Francisco. 



(No. 6.) 

May 4, 1850, F. Coombs felt as though he had not been burnt out at 
all in this fire, because he had not unpacked all his trunks, and had re- 
moved three days before from next door to where this fire commenced on the 
Plaza, where all was lost, the inmates barely escaping with life in their night 
shirts. The author well remembers big Clarke in Cross's Building ; he got 
80 terribly scared he returned to Chicago the next steamer, and truly one of 
those fires could never be forgotten by those who had passed through them. 

He immediately took another room across the way, in what was called 
Mac's Building, and whilst there only a month and a few days had many alarms 
of fires, and on one occasion three alarms in one night whilst occupying there ; 




(38) The great tornado fire of May 4, 1851, as described in the letters ol 
H. W. Bradley, Mr. Aird, and others, which was the most disastrous ever 
known in San Francisco. 



45 

and each time on looking at the quarter the alarm came from, he saw the 
flames issuing each time from the rear end of the Bryant House, so determined 
was the incendiary to destroy that building, for fires cancel leases, and a law- 
suit was in progress to compel payment of rent over due, and hence Gunter 
knowing his man had watchmen posted there to watch the first spark of con- 
flagration and extinguish it quickly, and prevented the wretch who would 
thus set fire to the whole town, for that largest building then in the place was 
60 situated it was bound to destroy the greater part of the most valuable por- 
tion of San Francisco, which occurred in the hurricane fire May 4, 1851, as 
described on next page, which also represents the next terrible conflagration 
as described by Mr. Shaw as follows : 

(No. 7.) 

Having been a neighbor of F. Coombs, the pioneer Daguerrean on Clay 
street, San Francisco, in 1850, we were fellow-suifarers by the destructive 
fire of June 14, 1850, which swept away in a fow hours his fine Daguerrean 
Gallery, in what was then termed Mac's Building, between Montgomery and 
Kearney street. T. Shaw. 

San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1862. 913 Dupont-street. 



In the next great fire he was bound to be a heavier loser than in all the 
preceding fires, owing to the extreme bigotry and conceit of Mr. Wells, then 
proprietor, who thought the building must bo saved, but who paid fearfully 
the penalt}' by being terribly burnt after escaping from the burning building, 




(39) The burnt district as it appeared after tlie great terrific conflagration 
of May 4, 1851, leaving only a wide-spread ruin of ashes and cinders. 



46 

the writer having given him cautions and advice when on top of his building 
of priceless value to Mr. Wells had he adopted it. The following letter from 
his fellow artist, H. W. Br adley, exhibits the miraculous escape F. Coombs 

had: 

(No. 8.) 

Mr. F. Coombs, San Francisco, Aug. 16, 1860. 

Dear Sir — I believe you were the last to escape from the burning building 
of Wells & Co., Bankers, corner of Clay and Montgomery streets, and al- 
though many were terribly burnt and one fatally so after escaping from the 
burning building, I believe from the precautions your presence of mind en- 
abled you to take in that moment of deadly peril you escaped entirely unhurt 
in that most most fatal and disastrous tornado fire of May 4, 1851. 

H. W. Bradley, 
Daguerrean, No. 176 Clay street. 



The following proves the Bankers made themselves responsible for his 
great loss of everything but the gold dust on his person he escaped with just 
alive. 

(No. 9.) 

During the great fire of May 4. 1851, whilst attempting to save the building 
of Wells and Co., we became fastened into the banking house b}' men stationed 
''nside to guard the bolted iron doors. I was enabled to force my way out, 
but could not bring a thing with me. I remember seeing F. Coombs' trunks, 




(40) Diaf::ram of burnt district, showing the great area or space swept by 
the devouring Hames. The numbers one, two, and three, on Clay street, 
between Montgomery and Kearney streets, exhibits the locations occupied by 
F. Coombs in the three terrific fires of May 4, 1850, June, 1850, and May 4, 
1851. 



47 

etc., brought down to the bank floor, but he could get nothing out from the 
doors being so fastened and guarded by men inside. 

James F. Penniman. 
R. N. RuGE 
Witnesses to signatures at Davidson's Bank. 
San Francisco, Cal., Jan. 29, 1862. 



Explanation of F. Coombs' most miraculous escape in the terrific fire, May 
4, 1851. The author whilst actively engaged carrying water up stairs brought 
down his trunks, etc., and pointed out to Mr. Wells the Imrning building of 
Treadwell from our roof, assuring him of the impossibility of s aving his build- 
ing, but Mr. W. persisted, and almost paid the penalty with his life. 

(No. 10.) 

Mr. F. Coombs, 

Dear Sir — I shall never forget the fire of Afay 4, 1851, and the extraordi- 
nary escape you had, most providentially finding a hair mattrass under the 
counter, forming a shield for a few seconds, as you rushed out the last and 
through the burning streets after forcing your way out of Wells's burning 
building, when all from the same building were so terribly burnt, one fatally 
to death, you alone escaping entirely unhurt, when you came up to my tent on 
Telegraph Hill, awaking nie suddenly, exclaiming that more than one-half of 
San Francisco was biurnt down. 

I am, Mr. Coombs, yours truly, 

Lafayette Place, Dec. 16, 1860. David Aird. 




(41) The Citj Hall as it appeared on Saturday, February 22, 1851, where 
upwards of five thousand people had collected to try criminals, when loud 
eries burst from all quarters, " Hang them anyhoio, a majority rules^ 



48 

(No. 11.) 

{Two Bankers Testimony.) 

This is to certify that Mr. Frederick Coombs was a business tenant of mine 
for about one year, and until the property was destroyed by fire, in which it 
was understood Mr. Coombs lost all that he had. This will also certify that the 
said Mr. Coombs, during the said period in the years 1850 and 1851, was an 
industrious, honest, faithful, and temperate man, and I take pleasure in saying 
80. L. Skinner. 

San Francisco, Jan. 24, 1860. 

Firm of Wells «& Co., Bankers, now of No. 5, Burroughs Place, Boston. 



Having been well acquainted with F. Coorabs since 1848 up to date, I can 
fully corroborate the above by L. Skinner. E. Switt, 

Sacramento City, Ja7i. 31, 1861. Late of Chicago. 



CNo. 12.) 

I remember after the destructive fire May 4, 1857, that F. Coombs loaned 
or gave a burntout merchant — — dollars, and paid his board, and to this 
date he has never asked for principal nor interest 

Jno. p. Hicket, 
Late Rabe & Hickey, Druggists, 
San Francisco, Mai/ 20, 1859. Clay street, San Francisco. 

$100 golden sympathy for burnt-out merchants, when burnt out threa 
times a year himself. 




(42'; The first execution by the Vigilance Committee of Jenkins, for stealing 
a safe, on June 11, 1851. F. C. saw bim hanging at daylight in the morning. 



49 
(No. 13.) 

San Frahcisco, Nov. 11, 1858. 

This will certify that Mr. F. Coombs loaned to a merchant one hundred 
dollars, expressly stipulating without interest. Tliis is not the only instance I 
have known of his assisting others when here from 1849 to 1852. 1 never 
knew him to get anything back. W. Reynolds, 

Battery street, corner Washington. 



The following exhibits another truly wonderful and equally miraculous 
escape from three horrid assassins, one of them English Jim, as seen hanging 
in the cut, page 50. 

From the San Francisco Herald, August 18, 1851. Being a portion of the 
confession of Whittakcr &; McKenzie, previous to their execution by the 
Vigilance Committee, August 24, 1851. 

P. S. — F. C. took their daguerreotypes whilst hanging, see page 51. 

I know Crockton and Ward. AVard is a convict ; I know it to be a fact. 
English Jim, alias Stewart, went up to Coombs' Daguerrean Gallery, and had 
his likeness taken. The night after, Stewart said : " I must have some money." 
The man Coombs had about §300 in a box. I, Belclier, Kay, and Morgan 
went with him. Jim went first, Kay second, Morgan third up the stairway to 
Coombs' Gallery. When they reached the second pair of stairs or landing 
there was a man sleeping on the stairs. Jim says: " There is a man here." 
Kay says to the man, " What in the hell are you doing there ?" The man 




(43) Hanging of James Stuart (a royal name), 
wanted to assassinate "Washington the Second." 
Vigilance Committee assassinated him. 



alias English Jim, who 
The conqueror and the 



50 

answered, " Oh I I am a watchman." Kay says, " So you are ; lay still, old 
fellow, I won't disturb you to-night. TeU Mr. Coombs we will come in the 
morning." So they retired from that scrape. 

I certify that the above is a correct copy from the San Francisco Herald. 

Prof. L. Bush, 
Lecturer on Chemistry, Electricity, &c., 
San Francisco, August 10, 1861. Late of Worcester, England. 

The subscriber well remembers the above desperado, He was so exceed- 
ingly courteous and polite bringing up customers, no doubt watching where 
the gold was deposited in the safe, and with the hope of influencing the sub- 
scriber to open his door for him at midnight to rob or murder him. F. C. 



(No. 14.) 



[Abbreviated Extract.] 
Brewham House, near Bourton, September 12, 1862. 



My Dear Cousin :- 

I assure you, dear Fred, we have both innumerable mercies to be thankful 
for. God has mercifully and graciously preserved us hitherto. I have often 
thought of his protection in your case in providing that man sleeping on the 
stairs when your life was in danger. Very many things have happened to us 
both which have been considered accidents, but which have been God's 
dealings with us for wise and (to us) unknown purposes, etc. 

Joseph Lush. 




(44) Hanging of Whittaker and Mackenzie, August 24, 1851. — F. 
Coombs happened to daguerreotj'pe this scene accidentally. His sitter jumped 
up to see what was up, and the operator ran after him with the camera and 
arrived just in time to daguerreotype the poor wretches as they thus hung. 



51 



$100 & $1,000 GOLDEN KINDNESSES 



IN CALIFORNIA, &c., 

When his Business Places were Destroyed Three times in One Year, and 
where he could not insure for a single Dollar. 



rhe following great kindness shown to F. Coombs by a Vieqixian, when 
he was in a tight place on the Isthmus in 1849, proves that he was partly 
actuated by gratitude toward another Virginian in 1852, when appealed to, 
as may be seen, he fully reciprocated that kindness, and with big interest. 

(No. 15.) San Francisco, J/ay 24, 1802. 

This will certify that Colonel Patterson, of Vh-ginia, voluntarily assisted 







(45) A Mining Camp on thk Yuba — ' 




LoNCJ»Toii and Panning-out Peocess. 



52 

P. Coombs, the Pioneer Daguerrean, with all the money he required when he 
was on the Isthmus in 1849, declining to take interest or written memorandum; 
and I cheerfully would add that F. Coombs voluntarily repaid it before it was 
required of him, soon after his arrival in California in 1849, and offered big 
interest, which was declined, and when by law probably neither principal or 
interest could have been collected £i'om him. 
Witness, H. C. Claekson, 

Wm. E. Moody, 21 St. Mark's Place, San Francisco, 

Bank Exchange, 164 Montgomery St. California. 

F. C. would add he felt the above kindness ($30) more sensitively becauso 
mkerly fellows who had become rich partly on his bounty, twenty-one years 
before in New York, totally refused to cash his note for $200, payable in one 
year, for $100 cash, rendering them liable for his $1,000 loss; and still they 
are owhig him the same. Their names will be given to any inquirer, should 
they reward him for kindness, as he rewarded the Virginian and his sick friend 
in distress — Trinity Church — 50 millions could not pay it, 

F. C. 

(No. 16.) 

San Francisco, Califoenia, Nov. 10, 1859. 

To whom it mat oonceen — While keeping the Franklin Hotel in this city, 
some time in the spring of 1852, I well remember a Mr. Loomis, from Canada, 
and a Dr. Carpenter, from Virginia, then from the mines at Rough-and-Ready. 
Mr. Loomis pretended to be, or really was sick, and said the doctors had de- 
clared it to be certain death for him to return to the mines ; that he was a 
dagueiTeot}'pist, and anxious to go into that business ; and as I heard them say 
Mr. F. Coombs was induced, under such recommendations, to assist said 
parties, and paid down in gold one thousand dollars in my house. From their 
subsequent conduct (and their leaving suddenly), I am of the opinion they 
grossly imposed on F. Coombs by appealing to bis sympathies, as he had 




(46) The city of Sacramento as it appeared in 1849— the highest point for 
large steamboat navigation. F. Coombs here paid ^5 on a young grizzly bear, 
in 1852, for his California museum, but left the varmint behind, prefemng to 
take mountain wild cats. 



53 

always previously refused every offer of a speculative kind, and as I am in- 
formed was devoted only to his own business of djlguerreotyping dm"ing his 
stay in this city — over two years, from 1849 to 1852. 

D. H. Walton. 



P. S.- 

dollars. 



-I heard one of them say he wished they had asked for two thousand 

D. H. W. 



I can corroborate the above by stating that I accompanied F. Coombs to 
the Franklin Hotel, and saw the parties within named, and attempted to in- 
fluence to give up a portion of the thousand dolhirs, but they both refused to 
give up any portion of the thousand dollars. J. Gilbeet, M. D. 

Sworn and subscribed before 1 
me this 23d day of June, 1 503 Davis St., near Jackson, 
1864, J. H. TiTCOMBE, j San Francisco. 

Clerk P. J. Court. J 

Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, London ; late H. Physician to the 
State M. H. S. F. 

205 Broadway, 
Saratoga Springs, Aug. 23, 1867. 
I always knew the above D. H. Walton very favorably spoken of, coiTobo* 
rated also from my personal knowledge of him for years. 

J. W. Sautelle. 

The following seems to prove the matrimonial promoter wanted all the 
Bowery girls to come to Calilomia and get married quick r 

No. 17.) New York, June 23, 1867. 

Mr. F. Coombs — My Dear Sir: The beautiful California gold specimen and 
view of San Francisco City, Harbor and Goat Island, you so kindly presented 
our firm in 1850, were publicly exhibited at our door on Chatham Street from 
1850 to 1853, and no doubt largely contributed to swell the tide of emigration 





(47) The prison brig Eupliemia and storesliip Apollo. (Rum hole.) 

to California at that time, as their exhibition at that early date caused a great 
talk and excitement, and you deserve a handsome remuneration for your patriot- 
ism, thus inviting others to share your good fortune in the land of gold. 

Witness, W. H. Lewis, 

Alfeed Campbell, Fonnerly of the firm of W. & W. H. Lewis, 

Sarony's, 630 Broadway, N. Y. Photographers, Chatham St., N. Y. 

P. S. — F. Coombs appeared to have totally forgotten the above incident 
until thus alluded to by W. L. Alfeed Campbell. 

This reminded F. C. about the same time he also sent a set of Panoramic 
Views to E. Anthony, 501 Broadway, to show the folks on that fashionable 
side of town the real beauties of San Francisco, by the faithful daguerreotype, 
to coax them to come there. Mr. E. writes he forgets that series of Panora- 
mic Views, and having himself also forgotten it and the present to the Lewis's, 
until accidentally reminded of it by Mr. Lewis ; so they might have been for- 
gotten, but he has sold such a set of views in 1850 at San Francisco for one 
hundred dollars. Where is the cousin or brother artist who will reciprocate 
ten or even one dollar in idolized gold ? and echo answers, Where ? to one 
bmut out five and robbed forty times. 



Having been enabled to help others by the hundred and thousand dollars, 
even when burnt out three times in one year, nothing perhaps could have ex- 
hibited the miraculous power of gold than the aid he was enabled thus to give 
to others, for, as usual in California fires, the gold was the first thing seized 
upon to escape with, and he was thus enabled soon to build up another busi- 
ness, and then was swindled out of that by T. K. B., and others, as per letter 
of B» H. D. Bryant Very bad boys, Califomians. 




(48) The Plaza in 1849 and 1850, when both horse, mule, and dray were 
sometimes swallowed up in the mud. 



55 



Corrobcrated by Forty Years Old Testimony in 
(No. 18.) ^®^ York, July 10, 1865. 

Friend Coombs — I take pleasure in renewing our old acquaintance of more 
than forty years standing. Amongst my earliest recollections of your kind- 
ness was that of your boarding, lodging, wasliing, &c., for more than one 
year, your cousin, J. E. Coombs, an extraordinary genius, a self-taught art- 
ist, who not only executed probably the most minute religious specimen ot 
fine arts in the world, as described in Mrs Hoppee's letter, dated Kentucky, 
1837, but he also executed in mezziotinto those charming pictures, Reading 
the Scriptures, and Napoleon Musing at St. Helena. He was thus blest min- 
istering to the pleasure and gratification of others, but truly unfortunate as a 
financier, for none knew him more intimately than I did, and no one ever 
accused him of ever owning or holding on to a dollar for a week together. 
He was so purely imaginative that he seldom descended to the realities o/ 
life — and I have a moral certainty that you never asked for, nor received a 
dollar of his money. Poor fellow, he was truly shiftless in the Yankee ac 
*veptation of the term. Sincerely obliged, 

ChAS. CniNNOCK. 



See Letter 77. 



84 John and 17 Gold Street, New York. 





^' 





(49) San Francisco, from head of Clay Street, in 1849. — The above 
scene presents the city in embryo, the shipping, the harboFj and distant view 
of Mont Diablo, Goat Island, and Contra Costa, in that rude time when every-- 
body made money in spite of himself 



56 



(No. 19.) Coreobokated by 

Mr. and Mrs. U n, of Cold Springs, who will no doubt take a pleasure 
in informing every inquirer that F. Coombs also had the pleasure of assisting 
themselves and young family with bedding and provisions for a voyage to 
New York, about forty years since, and never having alluded to it for more 
than twenty years he received $20 cm account, 1849, and when it is consider- 
ed had they remained poor he should never have expected a dollar, and that 
he has had to pay five per cent, per week interest for money himself^ a thou- 
sand dollars would be a small return where the risk was so great of ever see- 
ing them again. Being therefore enabled to say that he was the fortunate 
agent, indirectly, to introduce not ocly the smallest but the tallest specimens 
of religious enthusiasms into the United States, and whilst Trinity and 
Oiher churches staud as mementoes of his youthful generosity, he ought 
to have a better lodging than a deep, dark and damp cellar, swarming with 
rats, &c. (Proof) — Having overheard Mr. Keith, the engraver, say that F. 
Coombs fared so sumptuously, looked so fat and jolly, F. C. replied by offer- 
ing Mr. Keith a dollar subscription ticket to exchange lodgings with him for 
(M]e nii^ht, which Mr. Keith respectfully declined, saying, he had seen his 
i: iiiii) cellar vv^ith a hard shelf ior a bed, and rat? .''or company, &c. 

John J. Miner, 

.^e{;l. 15, 1864. 611 Clay Street. 

i'. S. This fairly beats honest old Diogenes ia his tub. 

Corroborated by the following, showing also that the California "Washing- 
ton prefers living in a rat community, (like Washington at Valley Forge,) than 
willing mechanics should be kept idle or the beautiful ladies should be kep* 




(50) The lower side of the Plaza, as it appeared in 1849, occupied entirely 
by gambling hells, etc. 



57 

waiting for their very best friends (except a good husband) the Yankee sew- 
ing machines. (No. 20.) 

Copy. — When my acquaintance first commenced with you in the spring of 
1853, I called once or twice at your lodging room in a miserable tenement 
house on Reade Street (since pulled down), and as you said you paid but 
four dollars per month rent, I should think that a pretty good sum for such 
a rat hole as 1 remember it. Wm. E. Baker, 

To Mr. F. Coombs, 63 Chester Square, 

114 Leonard Street, K Y. Boston, Mass. 

$250.00 New York, May 16, 1863. 

Received from Fred. Coombs two hundred and fifty dollars in part pay- 
ment for machines to be delivered to him under contract for agency in Canada. 

Grover, Baker & Co. 
$1183.00. New York, June 13, 1853. 

Received from Fred. Coombs one thousand dollars in cash and coupons, 
and powers of attorney to receive one hundred and eighty-three dollars more 
in part payment for thirty-seven sewing machines to le delivered to him ac- 
cording to contract, fourteen of them having been already paid for in ad- 
vance by the California Panorama Musuem, &c., (the receipt of which la 
hereby acknowledged). 

Grover, Bake> <& Co. 

(Please observe no interest, no security asked for by F. C.) 

P. S. Jeremiah Lanphier, Esq., exhorter at Fulton Street Church, will 
take pleasure in informing any inquirer that he saw F. Coombs pay $200 
Gheerfully to be lot out of that contract. 




(51) View of San Francisco, winter of 1849, showing Montgomery street, 
north from California street, at which time society was in a most deplorable 



* 58 

How scon lie had forgotten the ingratitude of Ditchers ! 

Next year he rushes in to help the Stitchers. 

He tried hard to give the free use of the above thirty-seven machines to 
the poor ladies of Brooklyn, if Deacon Johnson would loan his loft ; but he 
would not. 

In New York as in California, he thus preferred to live like a beggar to 
enable him to give like a prince past forty years. (No. 21.) 

The Banner Bearer of California delivers an Union defender from Shylocks. 

Mr. F. Coombs — Dear Sir — I feel most gratefully obliged for your very 
kind volunteer offer to loan me one hundred dollars, expressly without in- 
terest, becau'-;e I M'as complaining of the great hardship having to pay fifteen 
per cent, per month interest ; this occurred in 1850, in California, where you 
had been twice burnt out before in May and June same year. 

I regret my securities deposited with you, with everything you had (your- 
self almost included), were totally burnt up May 4, 1851, in Wells's Building, 
the proprietors of which bank made themselves liable for your great loss, by 
the lawless course they took in barring and fastening the iron door, prevent- 
ing escape, by which about every one was more or less injured, one fatally 
so. The testimony of H. W. Bradley, our fellow artis-t, shows though you 
fought the fire and remained the last, you escaped entirely harmless from 
your self-possession in the hour of danger. 

ClIAS. G. L. QUILFELDT, 

Lieut-Col. 37 Regt. N. Y. Rifles. 
N'ew York, July 2, 1865. No. 131 East 26th St., cor. 3d Avenua 

I know Col. Quilfeldt. C. A. Ruckel. 

Bakery, 34 John Street. 



.f^r 



,.r \\- 



>v^^^^>:^^^ 



^t 





(52) San Francisco pioneer lodging-house, 1850, when they lay on the floors 
or in dirty bunks, very like a damp cellar. 



59 

AFFIDAVIT 

FORSWEARING ALLEGIANCE TO THE EFFETE TORY GOVERN- 
MENT OF GREAT BRITAIN, 20th Sep., 1832, 

and instead of accepting the most splendid oflfers of 

Despotic Russian Honors and Gold, 1838, 

MAKING A FREE GIFT TO THE SOVEREIGN AMERICAN PEOPLE OF 
THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH AND POWER, in 1839 & '40. 

AFFIDAVIT OF REFUSING RUSSIAN HONORS AND GOLD. 

State of New Yorh : City and County of Albany : 

The subscriber having been the first person in Great Britain to propel a 
model train of cars by electo-magnetic power in the Royal Gallery of Practi- 
cal Science, just after Her Majesty's, Queen Victoria's, coronation in 1838,) 
attracting very great attention, and, among others, the Russian aristocracy 
and authorities in London wlio, after witnessing a private exhibition of its 
powers at the residence of the Russian Consul, in Regent Street, made the 
subscriber a most splendid present, and then, and also at subsequent periods, 
made your subscriber the most splendid offers to him to proceed with them 
to Russia further to experiment with electro-magnetism and electricity, both 
aa a motive power and for warlike and destructive purposes, warranting the 
subscriber a splendid establishment and retinue of his own and unlimited 
means to prosecute further experiments ; but the subscriber having then, 
and ever since, entertained a great horror of war when prosecuted for for- 




(53) Beach and harbor of Yerba Buena in 1849, from Happy Yalley, look- 
ing north, at which period vessels had arrived there from most parts of the 
civilized world. 



60 

eign aggrandizement and accession of foreign territory and nationalities ; 
the subscriber having also on the 20th day of September, 1832, in the city of 
Albany Nugent's Justice Court renounced forever all allegiance and fidelity to 
any foreign prince, potentate. State or sovereignty whatever, felt reluctantly 
compelled to resign all these magnificent ofters from the most liberal patrons 
on earth to scientific investigators and locomotive builders, and surely the 
United States of America are not less generous or just in rewarding the in- 
ventor of the most beneficent enterprize of the age. 

The subscriber preferring to return to '' the land of the free and the home 
of the brave," and by further experiments (wholly at his own expense) suc- 
ceeded in inventing and making a free gift to the sovereign American people 
of the beneficent Electric Telegraph (so far as he was enabled to ao so by 
the public exhibition of its capacities in the city of Washington, D. C, 
February 3, 1840 ; he having mondis before, in 1839, succeeded also in the 
more beneficent and more difiicult achievement of carrying passengers with 
the identically same battery he carried messages) in the beneficent hope of 
superseding the dangers of steam as a motive power. The first patent for 
the Electro-Magnetic Telegraph was not issued by the U. S. Patent Office 
until June 20, 1840, all which facts alluded to are jDroven by records in the 
national archives at the Capitol of the United States, Washington, D. C, 
and at the Capital of the Empire State of the Union, on respective dates 
above mentioned. 

FREDERICK COOMBS. 
Sworn to before me this 5th day ) 

of October, 1867. J 

N. Nugent, Justice and Clerk of the Albany Justice's Court. 

(Corroboration.) 

(No. 22.) American Institute, New York, Nov. 5, 1867. 

FREDERICK COOMBS, Esq. : 

Dear Sir : From conversation I had with my decccised brother W. W. 
Chambers, who went to London with you in 1838, he informed me that you 
exhibited a workiug model of an electro-magneric machine in the Royal 




(54) The post-office, San Francisco, corner Pike and Clay streets, 1849. 
Many a group has F. C. taken there of that scene. 



61 

Gallery of Practical Science in that city, drawing a train of cars around a 
circular railway. He also informed me that you were offered large sums to 
take this invention into Russia. For reasons I am not in possession of, you 
refused these propositions and returned to the United States in 1839, and in 
the fall of the same year you were awarded a Diploma by the American In- 
stitute at their Fair, for your Improvement in Electro-Magnetic power, by 
which you carried passengers for pay on a circular railway during that 
Fair in 1839. Having known you for a period of thirty years, I have alw^ays 
placed reliance in your statements. 

Yours truly, 

John W. Chambers, 
Secretary American Institute. 
(No. 28) F. Coombs has the pleasure of referring to J as. E. Cooley, Esq., 
78 Fifth Avenue, who was a fellow-passenger on the packet ship, St. James, 
to London, in the spring of 1838. 

The following exibits the success attending his furtlier application of 
Electro-Magnetic power : 
(ISTo. 24.) New York, March 19, 1868, 

This is to certify that I engaged Mr. F. Coombs at the American Museum 
in the year 1839 to exhibit his model locomotive and railroad, by which he 
carried passengers by electro-magnetic power with perfect safely, during the 
month's engagement I made with him. 

Gurnej's Gallery, 707 Broadway J. Fursmak. 

The lion. Francis Granger informed F. Coombs last summer at Saratoga 

Springs (1867), the Messrs. W -3, of Baltimore, and H— n, of 

Philadelphia, had, to his certain knowledge, received from the Russian 
Government, or made by their contracts for building railroads, locomotives, 
&c., several millions dollars each, soon after F, C. informed him of hia 




rc/:crtin ^on/^ 



(55) The "Ward House as it appeared in 1849, the rear end of which F 
Coombs saw on fire three times in one nio-ht in June 1850. Fires cancel leases 



62 

declining, and surely the U. S. Government, and People will reward P. 
Coombs' fidelity to tlie flag and its principles, who jDreferred to return to 
the United States, and entu'ely by bis own means and ingenuity indented, 
built and operated successfally, an entirely new locomotive for can-ying, not 
only passengers, but messages also with identically the same battery which 
generated the same electric current for the LocomotiA' e and Telegraph. It 
is therefore hoped Congress \d\\ reward these free gifts and many others in 
gold^ to sick or distressed Americans, for in corroboi*ation of this refusal he 
has several letters of invitation on hand from the Colonial Home and British 
aristocracy, as alluded to by California paper, March 8, 1863, to which he 
respectfully invites an examination, his course in California clearly proving, 
he greatly preferred to give like a Piince, than to be treated like one where 
the poor people (as in Europe), live in such abject misery and servitude, 
terribly distressing to witness to those who have any sympathies for the 
sufi"erings of their fellow-creatures. He never wants to see Europe again, 
nor the sufferers and victims of despotic Governments. 

In the latter year of appropriation, 1849, amongst other sciences, he dis- 
covered and applied the beneficent and beautiful electric fluid to another 
still more patriotic purpose — the alleviating human suftering (and often 
without fee or reward), combating death itself in the shape of that most 
hideous scourge the Cholera, unquestionably first saving his own and then 
many other lives in Chicago by its almost miraculous powers in curing 
that disease ; but the latter part of that and next year, as a pioneer of 
California furnishes the key to unlock his inmost aspirations and desires, 
showing most unmistakably (in precious gold) he was willing to advance 
on© hundred or even one thousand dollars of that precious stuff to allevi- 
ate the pains or distresses of others, no matter from what cause ; not a 
single ai)plicant did he then send empty away, not even the poor de- 
spairing lover ever left him but rejoicingly, for 

Gold hath wondrous power even most flinty hearts to melt. 




^.A^.se 



(5G) Caricature of the Removal of the Deposits, Mat 28, 1851. — The 
removal of the treasure to the new custom-jiouse, corner Kearney and AVash- 
inf^ton street^, took place under the careful supervision of the collector, the 
Hon. T. Butler King. 



63 

These his California golden gifts alone explained his brilliant discovery and 
gifts of the electric powers. 

Most wondrous, beauteous gifts from Heaven, 
And as freely given to all by him. 

To illustrate the value attaclied to both these inventions by the assem- 
bled wisdom of the Nation, the following are proofs (abb'd.) from the 
statues at large, Vol. 5, page CIS. 

The sum of thirty thousand dollars is hereby appropriated for testing 
the usefulness of the Electro- Magnetic Telegraph for the United States. 
Approved March 3, 1843 — from the above U. S. authorities. Vol. 9, 
Page 375. 

For testing the usefulness of the Electro-Magnetic power, as a mechanical 
agent for locomotion, «S:c. The sum of twenty thousand dollars to be 
ex I ended. Approved March 8, 1849. 

Tiit'se appropriations made respectively three and ten years after the 
facts had been accomplished and publicly exhibited at the Capital of the 
United States, both made not only self-sustaining, but remunerative, with- 
out his ever asking for Government aid or a monopoly, whilst Morse re- 
ceived both afterwards. 

The following willingness to take a back seat may be worthy of imita- 
tion, perhaps, by others. 

" Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." 

Printer D 1. 

Curiosity may find at the naturalization office, City Hall, New York, that 
he was perfectly willing Native Americans should do all the voting until 
he had picked up the language, graduated seventeen years. (Americans 
have to graduate twenty-one, perhaps ) and two days before sailing for Cal- 
ifornia, he completed his naturalization as follows; (abbVl) on the 13th 
day of Nov, 1849, Frederick Coombs appeared to become a citizen of the 
U. 8. He was accordingly admitted. 
[Seal] Certified on the 26th Oct., 1867. Na.than JjlBVts, ^un., OlerV. 




(57) Interior of the Eldorado Otambling Saloons, April, 1854. — In the 
few remaining hells may yet be seen lascivious pictures^ orchestral music^ etc. 



64 

The preceding facts are most strikingly corroborated by the following 
from the California P. Gazette, March 8, 1862: "The British Home and 
Colonial aristocracy invite him to ' come and join the society of the high- 
est people in the land, and be treated like the son of a prince in remem- 
brance of his youthful generosity,' the Russian powers extend to him the 
same well-merited courtesy. " 

Confirmed by letters Irom E. Hindley, Mrs. Dinah Marsh, "Wm. Marsh, 
Joseph Lush and Mr. Zorn, verbally. All of which have been very re- 
spectfully declined, as his sisters write, " Your feelings were heart-wrung 
to agony in witnessing the condition of some of the poor in the mother 
country." 

Additional proof of extraordinaiy self-denials obtained from the Hon. 
Frank Turk, first American Alcalde of San Francisco, Hassan Hasseltine, 
Esq., Jno. G. Bell, Esq., Francis Dickey, Esq., H, Austin, Esq., Samuel Pres- 
cott, Esq., Ward Eaton, Esq., Buchan & Wade, R. W. D. Bryant, Esq., &c., 
showing how he preferred to live in a damp cellar on cheap California hash 
rather than hurt the feelings of an unkind feminine, who rewarded him l^y 
swearing him into jail, February 6, 1864, on a charge of feloniously con- 
verting her diamonds, &c., having forgiven and also given her above three 
hundred dollars in greenbacks. The secesh editor would probably say that 
*' was positively sublime.'" 

1^^ He wants Congress to put him on trial for advancing $100 in gold, 
fourteen years before, to get a strange feminine married. 

Query : was not this novel application of the beautiful and beneficent 
magnetic power loetter and more patriotic than accepting gold and honors 
from the pro-slavery, barbarous Russian power, to destroy the liberty-loving 
Polanders, Circassians, or even Turks ? 

How much more delightful to work for the benefit of the benficent U. 




(58) Pioneer times on a rainy night when rats were more numerous than 
pedestrians. 



65 

States, and build the first telegraph on this Continent, January, 1840, and 
then to help poor sick or diseased Americans with twenty-five up to one 
thousand dollars each, in gold, in 1848-50, and no proot of the fact until 
ten years alter Russian gold could never hire him. From the Eclectic Mag- 
azine. May, 1864. Page 24-5. 

In the insurrection of Poland, January 10, 1831, never men fought with 
more reckless heroism than the Poles of that generation. At Qroehow less 
than 50,000 men repelled the main Russian army of 180,000 under Die- 
bitsch. 

On one occasion 500 Polish Gentlemen in Court dress and armed with 
small swords, threw themselves in mere wantonness of battle on a detach- 
ment of Russian Guards, and were cut to pieces to a man, not unavenged. 
The population of Warsaw, by the time order was restored in it, had sunk 
from 150,000 to 75,000. 

A single incident of the punishment dealt out to the conquered will illus- 
trate the absolutist. The mother of Prince Komau Saugusko addressed 
a petition to the Czar imjDloring mercy for her son who had Deen con- 
demned to Siberia. The Czar wrote at the bottom of the petition ; " He 
shall go on foot." The leader of the convoy in which the Prince actually 
went, with a sort of grim poetry, led a riderless horse to the saddle of 
which a huge knout was attached, and from time to time pointing to it 
with the words, " The Czar's instrument," forced the prisoners to make a 
genuflections, to it as a cross. Even in Siberia, Poles and Russian exiles 
were on a different footing. 

An exile who spent seventeen years in the country assured the author that 
ftix of his companions had been punished with six thousand blows a piece. 
Horrible to state, one of them survived the infliction for years, with a 
broken spine." 

Notwithstanding all these preceding and following endorsements by the 
grcatcBt and best men in California, th« Legislature shamefally violated the 




(59) French Shoe-blacks. — In San Francisco the French have luonopolized 
many professions. 



66 

constitutional provisions and the whole importation, because a total loss, as 
he predicted or feared in h.s petition published by Mr. Botts, for which lose 
he hopes he has a most righteous, legal claim on Coi gress, for it will be 
seen although he per.ected a new motive power and invented the first Tele- 
graph, lie w s une(iual to the Herculean task of supjDorting an entire insti- 
tution of arts and sciences alone on his back in such a new country as Cali- 
tornia, where the mil. ion were represented by their secesh Legislature as 
more fond of Avhiskey-toddy than scientific investigations however abstruse 
or metaphysical. 

Having i o\v progressed so far as to have returned from a tour around 
the worhl as a '' missionary of science and art," and proudly bearing aloft 
the Banner of T.uth to a skeptical world, often at the peril of his life, and 
oft.n in jails, damp cellars, and outhouses for his unquenchable love of 
scientific truths, and he thmks he may add, for love expressed by the ounces 
and pounds of gold to help the sick, the weary and heavily laden for which 
and his free labors of h^ve to ])enefit California he obtained the very proud 
tit'c ot the '' Distinguished Philanthropist" by the patriotic Press of Cali- 
fornia in 1861, when they began to find out his unbounded palriotism as a 
Pioneer of California from 1849 to 1852 and subsequent dates (increased 
now up to about fifty titles.) 

Wo will now heg the reader's kind permission to take a retrospective 
glanci back of twenty-one years, andftom the national records in the splen- 
did n/.ional or Congressional Library in the magnificent Capitol of the 
United States his name may be found enrolled in the National Intelligencer 
of January 28, 1840, r.nd subsequent dates as having been the successful 
pioneer of s( veral of the most beneficent sciences; and as he now petitions 
the lIonora!)k' President and Congress of the United States for some reci- 
procity -nd compensation for great wrongs and outlays sustained for the 
public good, of which fact it is believed the Honorable Congress may find 




(60) Chinese Females. — These appear to be, if possible, more degraded 
that the males of the same nation. F. Coombs well remembers taking the 
portrait of a Miss Atoy a low, safiron-colored creature, who had a gold watch 
on each side of her waist. 



67 



ample proof without leaving the beautiful national Capitol building, from 
the dates of January to March, 1840, and from those dates and the facts 
herein submitted, he flatters himself he was true, both to the spirit and 
letter of the oath of allegiance to the United States which he gladly made 
*' when he had penetrated as far into the bowels of the land," as the Capital 
of the Empire State on the 20tli September 1832 in the city of Albany, 
New York, and in the same spirit and love of equality he declined both 
■wealth and honors from the despotic Russian aristocracy and Consul in 
London, 1838, as hereby testified under oath and corroborated by several 
letters of inv.itation, to which he invites examination, from other foreign 
aristocracies, who proposed " to treat him like the son of a prince," all which 
he has proofs of in his possession, belihving it to be more in accordance 
■with the spirit of 1776, to give like a prince than to be treated like one. In 
this spirit your jDctitioner will be found to have made a free gift of the Elec- 
tric Telegraph to the sovereign American people virtually by its exhibition 
and successful operation as before alluded to, forming, it is believed, one of 
the most magnificent gifts ever made by any citizen to any nation in the world 
(the priceless boon of liberty alone excepted), preferring to do this than to 
accept the gold and favors so iavishly bestowed on some other Americans by 
the Russian Government for similar services, a few years later, amounting to 
eix millions each, as the Hon. Francis Granger informed your petitioner, facts 
well known in official circles ; and surely the United States will follow so 
illustrious an example to a faithful servant, not for a few but forty years' 
services building up the material interests of their glorious Republic at 
the expense of his hereditary and acquired fortunes, many now living in 
affluence on the results of his charities forty years ago on this Continent, 
even before he had seen it. 

The evidences of his Telegraphic and other inventions are from the 
Press of Washington, D. C, and other sources. The Sunday Herald, Wash- 
ington, D. C, August 6, 1866, says " Professor F. Coombs is clearly entitled 




1 



(61) Fancy ball, California Exchange, where men away from home influ- 
ences indulged freely in champagne at ten dollars a bottle and brandy fifty 
cents a glass. 



68 

to the honor of having discovered and publicly exhibited on Feb. 3, 1840, 
the first Electric Telegraph on this Continent, &c. &c." 

The Patent to Morse was not issued until June 20, 1840, nor worked until 
1843. 

As the millions may not enjoy the pleasure of a residence near the Na- 
tional Library or Capitol, he takes the liberty of reprinting the Card from 
the Daily Nations I,itelligencei\ Washington City, I). C, January 28, 1840. 

Grand Exhil)ition to be given every evening in the well-heated and splen- 
did ilall of the Museum, /(^z^r and a half street^ to open Monday, February 
3, 1840. 

A beautiful Electric Telegraph to be seen in action for the first time in 
this country. Passengers also carried by Electro magnetism at the Museum, 
with other highly interesting specimens in this science exhibited by 
machinery, and explained by Mr. F. Coombs, to whom was awarded the 
first premium at the last New York Fair, for the first Locomotive Magnetic 
Machine carrying passengers. Subscribers' season tickets three dollars, 
entitling them also to a chance for thirty prizes to be raffled for Feb. 23. 

It is hoped that the Christian and philanthrophist will not object to the 
rafiie, as their co-operation is earnestly requested to this great national 
object of perfecting a new motive jjower, if possible, to prevent the fright- 
fai and horrible catastrophes, which are now of suchfrequeut recurrence by 
the use of steam. A true copy. A. R, Spofford. 

/^ OK N Mayok's Office, City Hall. 

^^^^' "^^'^ Washington, D. C, August 9, 186G. 

Mr. Frederick Coombs was for some time in this city daring the year 
1340, and personally known to me. He at that time lectured on scientific 
subjects in the Assembly Rooms on Louisiana Avenue. 

Richard Wallace. 




(62) The Wreck of the Tennessee, which went ashore on March 6, 1853, 
at Tagus Beach in Bolinas Bay, about three or four miles north of the Heads 
of the Golden Gate. 



69 

Copied from the Daily National Intelligencer, Wasliington City, D. C^ 
March 9, 1840. 

Phrenology — A Card. — 

F. Coombs having concluded his first course of Lectures, has taken an 
office on Pennsylvania Avenue, between 3d and 4th streets. 

Important suggestions also given to those desirous of forming happy 
alliances. Admission 12 1-3 cents. Private examinations during the day. 

The Locomotive Magnetic Engine warranted to carry passengers with 
Rail Road, &c., for sale. 

A true copy. A, R. Spofford. 
"Washington, D. C, June 26, 1866, Librarian of Congress. 

P. S. Please notice the very low admission fee. Very kindly entertained 
by the whole soul Kentuckian at his House, and at the 
(Ko. 26.) Senate Chamber, Washington City, March 15, 1840. 

I have been most agreeably surprised and amused at the great accuracy 
v*'ith which Mr. F. Coombs delineated the characters of myself and friends, 
perlect strangers to him, and which could scarcely be surjDassed had he 
been acquainted with us for years. I can, therefore, strongly recommend 
him. 

R. M. Johnson, Vice Pre^dent of the United States. 
From the Troy Daily Whig, Nov. 14, 1842. 

Animal and Phreno-Magnetism. — 

F. Coombs has lectured on Phrenology in the Western and Southern 
wilds of Mississippi and Arkansas, with bowie-knives gleaming around. 

The above refers back to 1836 and 7. 

In Boston, Washington and New York cities, entirely different, as fol- 
lows : (No. 27.) 

Frederick Coombs, Professor of Phrenology, lectured and applied the 
science to extraordinary persons in public, three times each day, consecu- 




*<v 



(63) San Francisco Beauties — the Celestial, the Senora, and Madam, 
FROM Boston. — ^In this city may be met with females from every part of the 
habitable globe. For coloring and putting up pictures, in 1860, F. C. paid a 
lady ten times the amount she had previously received in Boston. 



70 

tively for three weeks to crowded audiences at Niblo's Garden, New York, 
October, 1837. 

John W. Chambers, Secretary, American Institute, Cooper "Union. 
W. S. Haerington, 146 East 10th street. 
J. G. Bell, 835 Broadway. 

Octayiani Gori, Sculptor, S. F. 

The following alludes to the kindness shown him in Washington, 1840, 
from Page 106. Coombs' Popular Phrenology, Boston, 1841. 

The author has experienced the kindness of the Americans, from the 
President in his palace, to the squatter in his log cabin on the banks of the 
Mississippi. He had previous to his last visit to England, forsworn alle- 
giance to the British Crown. 

He detests monarchial abuses and robberies, and none so much as the 
British Tories, whom he conceives the greatest and most impudent robbers 
on this earth, not only of their own victimised impoverished people — but 
of all creation, witness India, China, &c. 

He deems it but fair to state the Electric Telegraph now an established 
fact, was then so ridiculed as visionary that above three years elapsed after 
he had publicly demonstrated its practicability in 1840, yet Congress nor 
individuals invested their funds in this most beneficent enterprise until 
1843. Surely the man who anticipates or teaches Congress the way to go, 
ought to be liberally rewarded. 

Ten years after his success, some one obtained $20,000 to carry out his 
Electro-Magnetic power, which he v/ould certainly have tried to save the 
U. S. Government, had he been aware of that appropriation in 1849. 

He having thoroughly exhausted magnetic i^ower as an econmical me- 
chanical agent by costly experimenting in New York in 1840, after having 
sold his first Locomotive R. R. and Car to Dr. Chilton, of New York City, 
in 1840, on his return from Washington. 




No, 10. Anti-Combaliveness or llie advocate of universal peace. 
(64) Portrait of tlie author twenty-six years ago, when Mr. Gemel, the 
late jewelleF on Broadway, who had known Robert Burns the Scottish poet, 
flattered him by saying he then very much resembled the poet as he remem-i 
bered him. 



71 

GLORIOUS BENEFACTIONS, 

TO NINE OF THE LARGEST FREE NORTHERN STATES OR 
CITIES OF THE UNION, 

BY F. COOMBS, IN 1853 AND 1853. 

From annals of San Francisco. Page 527, line 9. 

" What California wants is population, an industrious, active, 

intelligent jjopulation." Then who so great a benefactor as 

the Pioneer Union Matrimonial Promoter of California, New York and 
Brooklyn cities. Great Britain and Canada. At first sight it seems a greater 
benelaction could scarcely have been performed than assisting families to 
the United States and Canada forty years since, but perhaps, it is still 
more patriotic to largely influence emigration to California in Pioneer 
times, for the greatest Jurists atHrm. He who makes war on one State of 
the Union makes var on the whole. He, therefore, who henejits one State 
of the Union, 'benefits the whole ; then how^ glorious to have benefitted nine 
large States or cities, as the following proves, as the secesh editor said on 
a previous occasion, "it was positively sublime." Alluding to F. Coombs 
getting poor ladies married. Rich ones get more offers than they can 
accept. 

Those who can appreciate and admire public enterprise and patriotic 
spirit of those beneficent Institutions, the American, and the Government of the 
IFnited States, and those of Europe sufficiently enlightened to hold their 
great Fairs, or International Exhibitions which it is hoped and believed, 




(65) Seal of the State of California, representing lake and mountain scenery 
of California, with the goddess Minerva in the foreground, emblematic of its 
sudden springing into life and activity, the grizzly bear being added as repre^ 
senting one of the earliest settlers — we suppose. 

72 

have resulted so beneficially to all parties and the public at large, such 
persons, no doubt, w^ill readily concede to the subscriber the merit of having 
been so much ahead of some governments, expending his money for such 
beneficent purposes as he was ten years before, to prove the practicability 
of the Electric Telegraph, and power also to heal the sick in 1839, 40 and 
49, before the beneficent Government' of the United States had advanced a 
dollar to develop or perfect either of these most beneficent sciences, whilst it 
is equally clear by giving the California Museum or Panorama, &c., for a 
charity gives to his enterprize a still more beneficent character than any 
one of the States or Governmental Institutions alluded to in New York or 
Paris, and when we see he also gave the admission free to ladies, and gen- 
tlemen only half price, presents an example, which, perhaps, stands alone, 
and unrivalled amongst showmen, and it is believed if the Secesh Editor 
of California had known of this fact, he might probably have again ex- 
claimed, *' It was positively sublime," for the evidences are so accumulative 
and overwhelming, that California was at that time " a Paradise on Earth," 
for working men and marrying women renders these immense labors and 
investments truly a marvel of patriotism to get them all to go there and 
get rich. 

The following editorial written about ten years after the facts occurred, 
removes all doubt as to the utter unselfishness of the heavy investments 
made, except the delightful pleasure of trying to make every one as rich 
as himself, just them, and no allusion to this great and beneficent enterprise 
until he had passed around this world entirely, " as a missionary of science," 
" or sublime truths demonstrated." 

J'rom the California Police Oa£ettM,'M.&Tch^, 18C8. 
PROFESSOR COOMBS. 

Copy. " It is not generally known yet, such is the fact, that in 1852, Pro- 
fessor Coombs represented California at Chicago, and at a rast expense to 
himself opened a IVTuseum and Panorama free, " hoping to bring ladies t^ 




-%. 



'■^^ ' 

(66) Mariano de Gadaloiipe Vallejo, one of the oldest and most estimable 
citizens of California, who had the kindness to present the author with a gold 
token of his approbation for his pioneer patriotism, after declining to take 
wine with him in his own cellar at Sonoma, in 1860. 



73 

California, the Professor very properly asks after making this fact known. 
Ought I not to represent California again ?" 

The above gives nearly the facts, but is more correctly given in the 
following statement of A. S. Evans, Esq., editor of the California Alta, who 
saw the collection after being given to a committee of ladies, who were 
holding a Fair over the market house at the time with which they formed 
a separate exhibition, and the writer remembers having to send to New 
York fur $30 to leave that city, with never receiving or thinking of receiv- 
ing any memorandum or other evidence of the charity then given, without 
solicitation on his part, hoping it accomplished a threefold good, feeding or 
clothing the naked or hungry of that city. 2d. Influencing ladies and 
others to go to Calitornia, having on exhibition at that time, gold specimens 
from about fifty different mines or localities in California. 3d. Showing the 
Chicagoans and others that California Pioneers were not all of the lowest 
order, the above kindness exhibits a remarkable forgetfulness, also for- 
giveness in thus contributing to a charitable enterprise in a large city 
where he had been so foully wronged three years before. Page (106.) How 
he got into jail 3 1-2 times hj mistake, as the foul perjurer made nothing 
by it, robbing him only of .his time. 

The following verification of an editorial, F. Coombs happened to have 
retained possession of, but without knowing from what jDaper it had been 
cut, was recognized very kindly by its former i)roprietor, T. A. Corey, Esq., 
as belonging to the Saratoga ReimNican of July, 1852, and exhibits an ac- 
count of some portions of the California Museum, and curiosities which F. 
Coombs i^urchased at an immense expense, and transported the live wild 
cat portion across the Isthmus, (some on his shoulders, i the Panorama and more 
bulky portion having been shipped around the Horn, and are alluded to 
in the letters of Dr. Crane and F. Iladley, Esq., as seen by them on Broad- 
way in the spring of 1853, when all his shipments had arrived. 




(67) The golden age of innocence and childhood, when bright dreams of 
hope enchant the view beyond. 



74 
Extract from the Saratoga RepuUican^ July, 1852. 
"CALIFORNIA BROUGHT HOME." 

Under this head our community have been informed of the arrival directly 
from the land of gold, of an immense collection of magnificent specimens 
from the princi\^-al mines ot California, comprising solid blocks of more 
than one hundjed dollars value to the most delicately fabricated leaves, 
stems and filaments of gold perfectly resembling flowers, and growing out 
of the soiid quartz, one large glass case being entirely filled with these truly 
magnificent productions of nature. Another similar case is also filled with 
hundreds of geological specimens almost all of a splendid metaliferous 
character, many being strongly impregnated with the precious metals form- 
ing an extraordinary rich geological cabinet, such as California alone can 
produce. 

Besides there are a pair of beautiful California mountain Cats of great 
rarity and beauty, also a pair of California crested Quails, and the King of 




(68) POBTEATT OP A LATE CALIPOKNTA. AcTKESS, PKESENTED TO F. CoOMBS BT 

THE EnGEAVER. 



75 

the Buzzards, a truly magnificent specimen of royalty, his head being oma- 
mented with a great variety of most brilliant colors. In size and courage 
he is a match for the Eagle. There is a sort of a wild pig about the size of 
a cat and equally ferocious. 

Mr. Coombs, the proprietor, has also about one hundred and fifty daguer- 
reotypes taken l)y himself, with nearly as many rare California and Isthmus 
birds preserved in a very life like manner, with specimens of Indian carving 
and vegetable i^roduclions of California, including the famous potatoes, 
pressed wikl flowers, curiously perforated wood from the harbor of Sau 
Francisco, &c.,&c., all of which, including explanatory remarks ))y Mr. F. 
Coombs, we recommend our citizens and strangers to visit, as we can fully 
assure them this Exhiljition is well worthy the public patronage and sup- 
port. Mr. C. being very courteous and always on hand to give every de- 
sired information relating to California at the Centre House, opposite the 
U. S. Hotel, Saratoga Springs. 




jBi perfectly formed Female Head, with superior temperam^at, 

(69) A Classical Face and Head op a Ladt. 

76 

P. S. From the business cards, dates, &c., on the other side of the above 
editorial I recognize it to be from the July No. of the Saratoga Republican 
of 1853. 

J. A. Corey. 
Ex-Editor and proprietor, Saratogo Springs, Sept. IG, 1867. 
The following letter from the^Hon. Frank Turk, Pioneer Alcalde, of San 
Francisco, exhibits the value of fine Daguerreotypes in San Francisco at 
that time, and some gratitude. 

(No. 28.) 

San Francisco, AjDril 4, 1859. 

In answer to your enquiries I well remember offering you thirty-five dol- 
lars for a Drguerreotype which you had taken of some California Poineers, 
myself included, but "vvhich you wished to retain for another Pioneer of 
California, who was also in the picture, but who was then absent from the 
city, but to wdiom you expressed yourself as much indebted for business 
kindnesses after being burnt out as you W'ere. 

You observed at the same time it w^as much above its real value, and 
which with every thing else I regret, was burnt up in Wells' Building, May 
4, 1851. 

Frank Turk. 



(No. 29.) 

To. F. Coombs, Esq., San Francisco. 

Additional proofs by the Daily Saratogian, August 10, 1867. 

Among the celcl)rities in town we notice Mr. Frederick Coombs, the Phre- 
nologist and Phihmthrophist, who will be remembered by many of our old 
citizens and visitants. 

He attracts much attention in his quaint Continental costume as he offers 
his patriotic pictures for sale. Mr. Coombs, since his visit here in 1852, 
has travelled extensively in California and been engaged in numerous 
schemes for the benefit of the Golden State. He has testimonials signed 
by hundreds ol leading citizens of Philadelphia, certifying that "after 




^^ 



m 



"^m 



(70) A quartz crushing mill in California, in pioneer tiroes, when everybody 
made lots of money. 




(71^ Hymen and Cupid, gods of Love 
and Marriage, " Waft on your golden 
wings the consummation and the hopes 
of every true-hearted lover." 



(72) The primitive ditcliing ma- 
cliine which was introduced to Nappa 
Valley with the ditchers, at F. Coombs' 
expense, in 1852. 



77 

twenty years' acquaintance, he has shown himself more tender-hearted 
than any lady, and richly deserves Wm. Penn's house and lot." The Cali- 
fomians speak highly of him for his eftbrts in promoting emigration to that 
State, and as a J/a^rw/zo;^/«^ Promoter, In the early days of that State he 
did much to assist poor miners. 

(N"o. 30.) From the Saratoga Sj^inngs Republican and Sentinel^ 

Friday, September 13, 1857. 

Professor F. Coombs, this gentleman whom we see by a reference to the 
files of t:.e Republican for 1852, was then in this village, has visited it again 
this season. 

Professor C. was the first to introduce into California the various farming 
and mining utensils nov/ so generally in use there. He has been styled by 
a Califoinian paper, the Pioneer Ditcher and Matrimonial Promoter, 

For what he has done to promote the cause of science, &c.. Professor C. 
is about to call upon Congress for aid, and as he richly merits it, we trust it 
may be granted. 
(No. 31.) ^ The Saratogian, Thursday, Sep. 19, 1867. 

F. Coombs, Esq., who is so well known for his scientitic discoveries, and 
for his benefactions to ladies, which earned for him the title, "Pioneer 
Matrimonial Promoter of California," has honored Saratoga with a long 
visit this summer. Few men have travelled more extensively or attracted 
more attention than he. He is a fine specimen of the ancient gentleman, 
and has lived so entirely for the benefit of (;thers as well to deserve the 
name of " Philanthropist." He was here on a bcnevo'ent mission fifteen 
years ago. We commend him to the good will of all who honor good 
look3 or who can appreciate disintereflted benevolence. 





(73) The farmer's daughter bringing I (74) Eomantic Lake and Mocntauj 
home a sample of unrivalled California Scenery in (^ALiFoaNiA. 
wheat — deep ditching. < 





(75) The Spirit of '76. 



(76) Three Grades of Intellect, 
— ^The Philosopher, King George ITL 
The Idiot—" A kingly fool, my lord." 



78 

The above " benevolent mission" alluded to the rare gold specimens 
California Museum, &c., and which be similarly exhibited at Utica, N. Y. 
State Fair at Cleveland, Ohio ; State Fair at Detroit City and at Pontiac, 
Michigan State Fair, and at Milwaukie, Wisconsin State Fair, and return- 
ing at Sheboygan, Wisconsin, also at Chicago City Fair for charity, and 
at Buffalo and Lockport, New York, as certified by Wiggins. Ladies free, 
and gentlemen half price. 

In the fall of 1852, F. Coombs represented California by a free Exhibi- 
tion, (in Chicago, 111.,) her most splendid mining, agricultural and artistic 
productions, to induce the ladies to visit California. 

W. E. JuDD, 16 Sansom st, San Francisco, late of Chicago, 111. 

Cost of one of the silver-plated show cases. 

To Mr. F. Coombs : (No. 32.) 

Dear Sir : From the description you gave us some time ago of the 
pyramid shaped velvet fixings, &c., inside the elegant silver plated show- 
case at present in our window, I have no doubt of its costing (beside your 
own labors) in N. Y. one hundred dollars. 

(No. 33.) Nov. 1, 1863. Yours, &c., J. M. Strobridge. 

Corner of Sansom and (ilommercial St, S. F. 

To Mr. F. Coombs : 

Dear Sir : On referring to my account Book, dated July 12, 1852, I find 
my charges for mounting your collection of California Birds, was sixty- 
eight dollars, which with the cases made for them, added to the cost of 
the prepared skins in California at that time exceeded two hundred dollars 
for the four cases as you took them from my studio. 

J. G. Bell. 
N. W. corner of Worth st. and Broadway, N. Y. 

August 5, 1865. 

The following free gift of gold, &c. to Lewis & Brothers, made by F. C, 
in 1850, and proof obtained only by accident in 1867, in New York City, 




(77) Railroad cut used in F. Coombs' petition to the Legislature, in 1859, 
urging free homes for the millions on the great railroad lines to cross this 
continent. He now again appeals to Congress and to the people to assert 
their rights to the public domain, to be used for no other purpose whatever. 




(78) A Silver Quartz Mill at 
Nevada Territory, 1861. 



(79) Cupid, the sly little God of 
Love, sharpening his arrows to do 
mischief to fair young maidens 



79 



exhibits in the strongest possible manner the early, the greatest desire F. 
Coombs then entertained, was that every one should come to California and 
share the good fortune he was then realizing. Having himself, i:i Ciiicago, 
seen a gold specimen early in 1849, determined him, more than ever\ thing 
else, to visit California, influencing him not only to send the gifts, (see page 
(54) but to expend thousands for the same patriotic purpose on his return 
East in 1853, as preceding account shows, for never was there such a 
chance presented before in the history of the world, for every one to hon- 
estly earn all the gold he or she might reasonably wish for. Surely, never 
was a greater patriotic investment made, except, perhaps, advancing gold 
to promote the Hohj Institution of Matrimony^ also in 1850, and equally 
patriotic, as no proof nor allusion to either fact, until he had ni'ide a trip 
around the world on a mission of benevolence. 



By the following extract it will be seen that F. Coombs' exanple is again 
being fobowed, sixteen or eighteen years after his patriotic enterpr.se. But 
the glorious opportunity of getting rich or married quick has passed away, 
almost, in California ; 1850 ten times better than 1868. 

From the Philadelphia Public Lalger and DoAhj Transcript^ March 18th, 
18(57 or 1868. 

" California is anxious to procure emigrants, and an ' Emigrant Aid Asso- 
ciation' has been formed in San Francisco. An agent is to be appointed, «S:c." 



The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce has also appointed agents at 
Liverpool and Hamburg for the same patriotic purpose. 




H U M A NITV. 



(80) Here in this endless chain of being, Behold, man ! thy ascent to- 
wards perfection and beauty. 



80 



Uncle Freddy's come to town ; 
Yankee Doodle dandy I 



He'll jump upon his ditoning plough, 
And try the race so handy ! 



From San Francisco P. Gazette, March 8, 1862. 

" The Pioneer Ditch Digger has recommendations from a number of the 
nest men in our nation, and we have seen the autograph signatures of two or 
tliree Governors, a dozen Judges^ and twenty Editors, besides a long list of 
merchants and mechanics in good standing." 

The above generous Editorial clearly proves that everybody approves of 
free ditching, matrimonial promoting, and helping the poor out of damp 
cellars, etc. 

The following are samples of 150 similar letters of patriotism in his pos- 
session, and exhibits in the most striking manner the intense desire the Free 
Ditcher has to make everybody happy, and particularly ministering to the 
necessities of the poor and needy, though never known or seen by him, aa 
follows; and please remember, no proof whatever of these and similar kind- 
nesses till many years after their occurrence : 

(Ko. 34.) Call Office, San Francisco, Feb. 2, 1862. 

" I remember Frederick Coombs, Esq., visiting Chicago with his rare col- 
lection of California specimens, etc., in 1852, and exhibiting them gratuitously 
for the benefit of the Relief Society Fund of that city. A. S. Evans." 

Corroborated by letters of Captain W. E. Judd, late of Chicago ; and well 
remembered by Lieut.-Gov. Boss, of Illinois ; by letters also from Benjamin 
Ober, M. D.; J. D. Cressey, J. A. Ferris Stockton, J. M. Ward, San Leandro; 
J. J. Wiggins, P. G. Clark, R. F. Levering, Boston, Photographers ; J. Ward 
Eaton, J. G. Bell, New York ; J. M. Strobridge, B. F. Butler, etc. 

The following are portions of costs of purchasing and representing Cali* 
fornia at the East, and at Chicago, West, for a Charity, fall of 1852 : 




(81) The Hippopotamus. — The skull from which this engraving was made 
may be seen in the medical college at Albany, on which there is a small 
balance due of ^15 — standing twenty-six years. For sale cheap. 

P. S — The devourer of widows and orphans, and ally of tory, greedy gov- 
ernments all over the world. 



81 
(No. 35.) San Francisco, April 9, 1859. 

" To Mr. F. Coombs, — Sir : My recollections of the price you paid me for 
Shelton's Museum in 1852, are that I loaned him five hundred dollars upon it, 
and gave up the thing to you for that amount. My impression was, that 
there was more than that value in it ; at any rate, it cost Shelton much 
more. Benjamin Ober, M. D., 

Cor. Busk and Montgomery Sts." 

(No. 36.) San Francisco, June 10, 1860. 

"The undersigned certifies that in 1852 the Free Ditcher purchased of him 
a daguerreotype of an antelope taken from life, for which he paid fifty dollars ; 
said daguerreotype formed part of a collection of California curiosities and 
products taken by him to the East, and there exhibited for charitable pur- 
poses. P. G. Clark, Photographer, 

Cnr. Clay and Kearney Sis." 

(No. 37.) San Francisco, January 20, I860, 

" Having been visiting Grass Valley early in the spring of 1852, it is with 
great pleasure I can certify to the Free Ditcher's liberal expenditures for all 
the rare and beautiful gold specimens he could procure ; also a rare pair of 
California Mountain Cats, but which slipt off unceremoniously the first night, 
but replaced by others at great expense ; all of which, with other products, 
as a true Brother Artist and lover of the beautiful, he transported thousands 
of miles, and gave them free for exhibition for a Charity at Chicago, Illinois, 
and at the State and County fairs. New York, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and 
Wisconsin, in 1852-3, at a great sacrifice of time and money, anxious for all 
to come and share in the good fortunes of early Californians, for which atid 
similar services he ought to bo well paid. 

R. F. LovERiNG, Photographer 
Hamilton & Lovering), 111 Montgomery Si '* 



8S 

(No. 88.) San Fbanoisoo, Jannary 24. I860. 

" I well remember wli en goin^ home in the "Winfield Scott, in the spring of 
1852, Mr. F. Coombs was also returninir. but as a Steerage Passenger. I 
think he had nine different Californian or Mexican Birds and animals, which 
he carrie<l over the Isthmus on a long pole balanced over his shoulder, (a 
truly herculean feat in that climate,) and which caused a great deal of amuse- 
ment to us all. In the summer of same year he had a very beautiful and 
rich collection of California Curiosities at Saratoga Springs, which must have 
been very costly in California at that time of high prices for everything. 

J. Waed Eaton, 
Of J. Riddle & Co., cor. Pine and Sansra, San Francisco.*' 

CNTo. 39.) EsTEDULio HousE^ San Leandro, Contra Costa, Sep. 18, 1862. 
" I have a very i)leasant recollection of entertaining Mr. F. Coombs and the 
!ate Mr. Shelton, when they were making a pedestrian tour in Contra Costa 
in search of the beautiful California wild iiovvers and other curiosities, in the 
early spring of 1852 ; and having heard since from undoubted authority that 
Mr. F. Coombs transported the Museum Panorama, wild flowers, &c., and 
exhibited tliem at the East and West, also as far as Chicago, 111,, (at the latter 
for charity). I feel that he was doing a great public service for California, 
worthy the ambition of General Washington himself, and he deserves re- 
muneration. J. M. Waed.** 

How our Author became a Free Ditcher of California. 

The above delightful trip to the then beautiful wilderness of Contra Costa, 
enamelled with the most beautiful wild flowers, rendered it one of the most 
charming landscapes ever seen. The author, shortly afterwards, made a simi- 
lar pedestrian trip to Sonoma and Napa valleys. In visiting those valleys he 
had a twofold object in view — to collect rare agricultural specimens for the 
museum, to take East, in which he fully succeeded ; also to receive the gold 
he had freely advanced the broken-down ditchers to take themselves and ma- 
chine to Napa to save the young crops from the wild cattle, as follows : 

(Just l.ke another honest Uncle Abe, he went into the fencing business, 
being the Pion(?er DrrcHER of Napa Valley.) 

We believe that F. Coombs' money brought the first ditching machine into 
Napa Valley — spring of 1852 — without owning it or a foot of land here ; but, 
as we beheve, loaning the money to assist broken-down mechanics to earn 
money with it, and to save another man's 3'oung crops, which, on arriving 
here, he was in such a hurry to do, he pitched right in, not stopping to make 
a bargain. The ranchman charged him ten dollars for his board, pleasantly 
teUing him he had not hired him. Of course, he did not get a dollar back; 
he was in such a hurry to assist the poor mechanics, as usual, he did not 
get one I. 0. U. even, for which patriotism and unselfishness we recommend 
him 10 the Legislature or authorities for pay. 

Editor and three Supervisors of Napa County, 

January, 1860. and seventeen Citizens of Napa City. 

They might have truly added, he walked forty miles over mountains, and 
sailed by water twice as far on that dehghtful trip. 

^^\^?,'^ -r. Jantaby 10, 1861. 

"Mr. F. Ccomrs— My brother, Captain Cressy, painted a Panorama, 
which was on exhibition in San Francisco, J 851. He refused one thousand 
dollai-s for one of the Paintings, all of which he sold to you afterwards. 
Witness, John A. Ferris, of Stockton. J. D. Cresst." 

Also by letter corroborated by B. F. Butler, Lithographer. 



To r. Coomul: C-U'. ^l.) 

My Dear Sik : i.au^ in the fall of 1852, in the city of Buffalo, N. Y., I 
•was greatly pleased at >tcmg your exhibition of the California Museum and 
magnificent eoj lection of gold specimens, i.l'C., and as you charged ladies 
free and gentlemen only half ])rice, you did much to influence emigration 
here in early times, myself amongstiihe number. 

J. J. W1QQLN8, late Daguerean Artist, at Buffalo, X. Y., 
San Francisco, July 14, 1852. 
Attested, Cuarles Williams. 



P. S. Mr. AViggins occasionally, very kindly lent his musical voice in the 
following humorous strain, influencing visitors to patronize the show, and 
its having been free to ladies, he "was very successful indeed, the great 
American Eagle alluded to was caught and added to the show in Mich- 
igan. 

"Here is the great American Eagle that whipt the universal game cock 
of all creation, and now sits roosting on the magnetic telegraph of time. 
Illustrious transmogrification all brought home from California for 12 1-3 
cents. Please step in ladies, aud see the free show. 

Coombs, Proprietor. 
J. J. Wiggins, Agent. 



(No. 42.) 

Read the Ladies' testimony. 

To F. Coombs, Esq. 

Dear Sir : A residence in Cali- 
fornia of more than eleven years, from 
1852 to 1863, enables me to assure you 
that it is the best country in the 
world for either rich or poor ladies, 
from my own actual experience and 
testimony, also, of other ladies who 
emigrates from the East, and long 
resident in California — and I wish I 
was back there now. 
Witness. J. M. Irwin. 

Wm. SUNDERLIN, 

340 Broadway, New York. 
Nov. 11, 1857. 
The following extract shows ladies 



Read the Gentlemen's testimony. 

From the annals of San Francis- 
co. Appletons, 1855. Page 460. 
August 14, 1853. 

" Again we say, there is no coun- 
try in the world to be compared for 
w^ages and profits to California. It 
is emphatically, the poor working- 
man's Paradise on Earth." 

Query ? What rew^ards would be 
too great for the man who thus ex- 
pended his time and money to 
greatly benefit all others, friends and 
foes alike, getting them all into Par- 
adise before their time ? 

F. C. 
have a good time in the divorce line* 



From the San Francisco Bulletin, 
(Copy.) Difficulties in the w^ay of a matrimonial separation, The San Jose 
Mercury of 25th February, remarks. (Copy.) Hannah Chapman, of Santa 
Clara County, brings suit against John Chapman, her husband, for divorce. 
The case is referred to Court Commissioner C. B. Younger, who orders that 
inasmuch as Hannah is deficient in the necessary '^ tin," to carry on the 
suit, John shall pay said Hannah, during the pendency of said suit, the 
sum of $60 per month ; and further, that said husband shall pay the addi- 
tional sums of $200 Court fees, and $1,500 counsel and Court Commis- 
sioners' fees within three days after the service of the order. This order 
is made on exparte evidence, and should be a warning to all, w^hose wives 
contemplate a disentanglement of the matrimonial knot. John should be 
thankful that he is allowed three days grace, and that the Attorney's fees 
are no higher. 

The above unhappy state of things resulted, no doubt, from the deplora- 
ble scarcity of ladies. 

To show how California Pioneers helped to build up New York, the fol- 
lowing exhibits his golden remittances to said E. A. in four months and 
7 daye. _^^.„ _^,^_.^. . y. 



..-»itA«^.^.'.- I 



84 

Mr. F. Coombs in Acct. with E. Anthony. 
December 30th,1851. By Cash, - - $500,00 
March 31, do do . - 350,00 

April 22, do do - - 500,00 

April 30, do do - ^ 493,55 

May 6, do <^ - - 500,00 

$2343,55 

Having dealt with him since he had a small room only, comer of Fulton 
and Broadway, in 1842, and having sustained a loss of all, he shipped 
from California, Sei^tember 18th, 1865, at Coes Warehouse, he tried for a 
small subscription. 

The Honorable Frank Turk's letter, (No. 43), proves F. C. refused $35 
for a Daguerieotype in 1851. 

Whilst visiting Saratoga, soon after the above date, F. C. accidentally re- 
ceived the strongest proof of these beneficent and matrimonial investments, 
the earliest he made in California, 

F. Coombs. 



In conversation with F. Coombs, I remarked that I knew about twenty 
fellows who went from our jDlace (City of Bangor, Maine,) to California in 
1840, and all got rich, amongst them JST. H. Hunt, Henry Marsh, Levie Ber- 
ry, Eli Hoskins and D. H. Walton, Hotel Keeper, whom I recognize as the 
writer of a letter to F. Coombs, proving F. Coombs assisting a brother 
artist and sick miner with one thousand dollars in gold, in the Spring of 
1852. 

August 24th, 1867. J. K Sautelle. 

205 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. 

Testimony to F. Coombs, Esq., Copy : (No. 44.) 
Dear Sir : I have the pleasure of congratulating you for your public 
spirit and enterprise in volunteering to represent the State of California, by 
her most splendid Quartz and Gold specimens, large Panoramas of Cities, 
Mining Camps, etc. ; painted by Captain Cressy, also splendid Daguerrean 
Panoramic Views of San Francisco, Benecia, etc., taken by yourself and 
others with the original Shelton Museum, all of which, w^h Portraits of 
distinguished Californians, and BalPs Model of San Francisco, which was 
on exhibition fiT several weeks on Broadway near Pearl Street, early in 1853 ; 
such bi-inging home of California, by her choicest productions, must have 
largely increased Emigration to that State when she most needed popula- 
tion, and when every man could make a "pile" without difficulty, (having 
myself visited California, and can confidently say so,) for such patiiotic ser- 
vices to so many States on both shores of this continent, I beg to join in a 
petition to Congress to remunerate you liberally. 

Your ]ircsenting some beautiful Chinese Paintings on rice paper, to some 
larlv friends of mine at that time, more strongly impresses your universal 
kindnessts on my mind during thirty-five years past that I have known you 
most favorably. 

608 3d Avenue, New York City. Feedk. Hadley. 



(No. :45.) 

Having personally visited the above exhibition with my family, early in 
1853, I most heartily concur in the above sentiments of Mr. Hadlej^ and 
from my personal knowledge of Mr. Coombs, consider that he is iustly en- 
titled to a splendid compensation for his services and losses while in Cali- 
fornia. His picture of my Uncle, the Hon. Samuel Branan, was certainly 
a faithful likeness, also those of many others of his associate pioneers, all 
of whom were known to me personally. 

It would seem to be nothing more than a simple act of justice for his 
country to repay him in some way for the many presents and curiosities he 
added to the California Museum and Collection. 

29 W. 14thst., New York, Nov, 11th, 1867. S. P. Crane, M. P, 



85 

HELP FOE THE SHIPWRECKED SOOTS. 

OFFICE OF THE PKISOX ASSOCIATION, 

12 Centre Street, New York, November 17th, 1865. 

(Copy: No. 46.) 

Having been the reference to an advertisement for a worthy but distressed 
shipwrecked family from Scothmd, arrived at Harlem in 18o4. I distinctly 
remember Mr. F. Coombs obtaining their address from me, for the purpose 
of relieving them at that time. Abrm. Beal. 

Kindness to New York and California IMerchants. 

(Copy : No. 47.) To Mr. F. Coombs : 

Dear Sir : I am greatly pleased to hear you pay the compliment to na- 
tive New York Merchants, that had all others repaid your kindness with 
equal promtitude, you would be considerably richer to-day, as you say you 
never lost a cent by them, whilst I can certify with pleasure that you have 
assisted some when short, hundreds of dollars at a time, but I never knew 
you to ask for interest or security at any time. Washington Hadley. 

New York, August 22d, 1865. 6x12 & 7x11, Cooper Union. 

P. S. Mr. W. H. or F. Coombs can give the address of a truly honest na- 
tive New Yorker if he wished. Similar kindness to Californian Pioneers. 

San Francisco, November, 11th, 1858. 

(Copy: No. 48.) 

This is to certify, that to my certain knowledge, ]\Ir, F. Coombs loaned 
to a burnt-out Merchant one hundred dollars, expressly stipulating without 
interest, and this is not the only case I have known of his assisting others 
when he was here, from 1849 to 1852. I regret to say I never knew him to 
get anything back. W. Reynolds, 

Cor. of Washington & Battery St., U. S. Custom House Broker. 

Doing the above kindness when interest was cent per cent. 

(No. 49.) 

To F. Coombs, Esq. January 19, 1861. 

My Dear Sir — I remember when you solicited my opinion about the 
Paintings or Panorama painted by Cr.pt. Cregsy early iu lSl-9 and 1850. I 
cautioned you against them, although he hud, 1 believe, been ofiered large 
sums for some of them previously. ] believe he was very poor at that time, 
and exhibited the greatest ingratitude after you helped him out of his dif- 
ticulties. I have since heard he made a fortune with the property you gave 
him for the Paintings. B. F. Butler. 

Pioneer Lithographer Atheneum Building, 

corner California and Mont St., San Francihco. 

P. S. F. C. had such an intense desire to get every one to come to Cali- 
fornia and get rich, he thought these lirst Paintings, made of the mining 
scenes, «&c., would contribute largely to that end. 

(Copy: No. 50.) 

3Ir. F. Coombs, 

Dear Sir — I was knowing to the fact of your paying fifty dollars lo ]Mr. 
Edward Hendy, in Kabe's building, Clay street, early in 1852, for some 
Daguerreotype views of the beautiful Town of Benecia, which I am in- 
formed vou took East to bring female emigration here. 

San Francisco, February 24, 1862. R. W. D. BRYANT. 



•6 

He first put on the old Continental (sacrificing his private feelings for 
the public good) and to make the ladies and children smile when recom- 
mended to do so as follows, by the best of men. 

(No. 51.) San Francisco, Athenaeum Buildings, Sep. 3, 1860. 

We certify that as a California Pioneer, F. Coombs, Esq. voluntarialy 
preferred to live like a begger to enable him to give like a prince; a 
sovereign American prince by nature, not an artificial, accidental one. 

We also pronounce him most worthy to assume the costume of the illus- 
trious founders of our glorious Republic, to the leaders of which his person 
and character bear an extraordinary resemblance, there being more than 
twenty parallel or corresponding passages in Washington's memoirs and 
F. Coombs' testimonials, correspondence, &c. 

Editors of Herald^ AUa, Times, Gazette, Pacific Methodist, Call, 

&c., &c., &c. 
President Teschemacher, and the leading Artists, Merchants, and Pioneers 
of San Francisco. 

The following evidences clearly show with his Union sentiments pub- 
lished in his earliest appeal to the Legislature of 1860, he could have no 
justice whatever at the hands of men described as follows from the San 
Francisco Bulletin, No. 133 : 

" We must send men to the Legislature from San Francisco who do not 
form a portion of the combinations that are striving to enrich themselves 
by the most unheard of villainies ; a Uuion champion could have no 
chance with such wicked secessionists, as clearly ajDpears, also, by the 
following testimony, and in Broderick's case the aiders and abettors of 
murderers and suicides. Are Union patriots rejected ? 
(No. 52.) Hick's Ranch, Elk Grove P. O., March 15, 1859. 

To F. COOMBS, Esq, San Francisco : 

Dear Sir : Your favor 28tli April has but yesterday come to hand. 
Since the 1st of March I have been in the city attonding to my contested 
election case. I am in the minority of the House. The majority expelled 
me for my active opposition to Lecompton ;inrl its supporters, although 
nominally for my having resided in Canada, akliough a native born Ameri- 
can. I was promptly re-elected by the electors of the county, and refused 
my seat a second time because I had been expelled before. The present 
House of Assembly have very little taste for the fine arts ; yet if I was act- 
ing with the majority of the House, I should be pleased to make a good 
exertion to obtain the passage of your bill. I have a grateful recollec- 
tion of your no'jle exertions in the cause of human freedom, and it 
pains me to see that I can do nothing worthy of your enterprise, especially 
as I know you to be so richly entitled to a liberal support. 

I am, my dear sir, with high respect and esteem, yours truly, 

CHARLES BUNCOMBE. 

(Additional evidence.) 

The preceding and the following presents conclusive evidences an Union 
standard Bearer could have no chance for justice with a Legislature com- 
posed of secessionists, as there exhibited from Sacramento Union. 
UNWARRANTED ASSUMPTION OP POWER. 

The action of the California Legislature in 
changing the venue in the case of Horace Smith, who was indicted for 
the killing of Newell in San Francisco, seems to us rather an assumption 
of arbitrary power, and especially so, since the judicial authorities of that 
city had refused to allow such change. We presume the people of Placer 
county are as capable of administering the laws justly as those of San 
Francisco. But why the Legislature should thus interfere in the matter is 
more than we can understand ; a former Legislature did the same thing in 
the case of Judge Terry, who was indicted for the killing of David C. 
Broderick, and the results proved that the trial was a most contemptible 
farce. — Treha Journal. 



67 

"The hole in the wall" Legislature was the one which knocked % 
hole in the wall of the Assembly building, leading to a rum hole, to facili- 
tate getting their bitters 1 

This was too great an outrage on decency, and it was stopped up. Sen- 
ator McDougal was their choice, and correctly represented them at Wash- 
ington. From the Alta California, Friday, Nov. 1, 1806. 

Tlie acqittal of Duane will take the good people of San Francisco by sur- 
prise. They confidently expected and they believed that Justice demanded 
a different result. 

The Press is truly the great palladium of liberty in California, to them 
and to Congress he confidently appeals from such Legislatures as California 
possessed in secesh times; even the old fossil secesh Editor, the ally 
of the British Copperhead government and his most ancient enemy owns 
up that his conduct as the Pioneer Matrimonial Union Promoter of Cali- 
fomia, was truly sublime and that He ought to have it 

Democratic Standard, Charles T. Botts, Editor. 

Sacramento, Friday, March 30, 1860. 
Ought to have it. — Among other applications, good, bad and indiffer- 
ent, for relief from the Legislature, we find the following circular "float- 
ing about on the surface of the occasion, trusting to tlie sublimity of 
luck." The most touching part of the appeal is "■ the conduct he ex- 
hibited towards the fair sex " in the early pioneer times when the sight 
of crinoline was good for sore eyes in Califomia; his self-sacrificing de- 
votion under the circumstances was truly sublime. The following is a 
verbatim copy of the petition : 

To the Honoralle Legislature of California : 

A late returned Califomia pioneer having brought with him over fifty 
cases of artistic and scientific apparatus, hoping to benefit California, 
has been vainly petitioning the Legislature of California for a small pecuni- 
ary aid in order to save from ruin and to accomplish a groat public good, 
(the artrt und sciences being encouraged by most enlightened govern- 
ments.) and as a preliminary ste]) and evidence oi his good faith and in- 
tentions, he has solxiited nn examin:ition into his conduct as a pioneer- 
artist from 1849 to '52, and, although he never dreamed of having to refer 
to his then Califomia pioneer life, yet he nov; fearlessly asserts that during 
that period (particularly when he, like all others then here, acted out his 
natural impulses), he exhil)ited a greater amount of artistic industrial skill 
and perseverance and practiced a more rigid, self-denying economy tlian 
the great philosophical and economical Franklin ever taught or practiced, 
united to and at the same time to gratify a generous philanthropy never ex- 
celled by the greatest of English philanthropists, the immortal Howard. 
As a part of that conduct he exhibited towards the fiiir sex a more roman- 
tic self-sacrificing devotion than history, ancient or modem, furnishes any 
example of or that he is aware of. The latter j^roposition he claims noth- 
ing for, having been born just so, but the two first propositions being purely 
patriotic, now susceptible of living or documentary proof or denial, he shall 
assume them to be unquestionably true should not the Legislature institute 
the rigid examination he most respectfully solicits — proving him to be one 
of the best and most patriotic of pioneers, or one of the greatest imposters, 
to be published as such either way. 

F. Coombs, first, or earliest Pioneer Daguerrean of San Francisco. 

" This romantic, self-Bacrificing devotion " alludes to helping a lady never 
seen by him to get her married ! I when he wanted to get married himself, 
as the secesh editor said, '* was truly sublime," and as marriages they say 
are fomied in heaven, this seems like assisting in a heavenly work, but'leav- 
ing himself out in the cold, while the giving and forgiving another femi- 
nine in 1864 about four hvmdred dodars while living in a damp cellar for 
economy ie very like it and rewarded with a jail. 



.S8 

F. Coombs having now received and on hand many 'additional proofs 
that he has preferred the happiness of others before his own in the testimony 
of Rev. R. Eddy and many others received since March 30, 1860, he there- 
fore petitions the Congress of the United States, to whom he refers his case, 
to resolve unanimously " that he does have it," and teach his rich, miserly 
relations living partly on his charity forty years past that claims for charity 
can never be outlawed, but to be paid before every other claim whatever. 
From the Press of San Francisco. 

The Daily Morning Call, May 8, 1861. 
The modem Franklin, Professor Frederick Coombs, the Pioneer " Ditcher 
of Napa," who parades the streets in full revolutionary costume, is anx- 
ious to establish a scientific institute. He has the apparatus, but lacks the 
means, and therefore asks for Legislative and public aid. He is confident 
he can do much good if he only had the power. Why will not the Solons 
at Sacramento see to him ! 



From the Daily Morning Call, May 31, 1861. ~ 
An art establishment of art, most of our readers will recollect seeing at 
one time or another a white haired man, attired in the costume of Frank- 
lin. That man is Professor F. Coombs, who is endeavoring to establish a 
kind of mechanical scientific and art institute for the benefit of our citi- 
zens. Mr. Lick has given him the lease of a lot, he has five thousand 
dollars worth of apparatus, and if the people will famish him the means, 
he will put up a building. The Professor has in vain appealed to the 
Legislature, and now appeals to the public. Considering the fact, he says 
that he always assisted every body who applied to him, he should now be 
assisted by every body, " Certainly, one good t\im deserves another." 



From the Daily Morning Call, June 13, 1861. 
Professor Coombs again. — This distinguished Philanthrophist has aban- 
doned his idea of a Hall of Science and is now collecting subscriptions to 
enable him to purchase a Photographic Gallery ; several of the bankers 
and prominent business men have generously come to the aid of the " Second 
Franklin." 



From the New York Herald, Wednesday, April 23, 1868, the following 
exhibits the Legislature of California (even of 1868) pursuing the same 
suicidal course as in 1859, '60, &c.: 

San Fkancisco, April 21, 1868. 

The California Academy of Sciences have adopted a report censuring in 
strong terms the last Legislature for abolishing the State Geological Survey, 
without a provision even for the obligations already incurred. 

" Extract from F. Coomls, appeal for Justice to B. IT n and Sons, Archi- 
(No. 53.) tects, iV: Y. 

New York, November 2, 1865. 
"F. Coombs voluntarily remitted or gave the means to the poorest of the 
poor to procure for themselves homesteads or waves, in 1827 or 8, 1850, 
1851, and 1857, before providing himself with either of these the greatest, 
the most coveted joys of Earth." 

Mrs. Susan B. Carleton, Mrs. Low, 

and more than 50 other Ladies and Gentlemen of N. Y. 
Washington Hadley, 6&12&7&11 Cooper Union. 
Opinions and recommendations of some of the oldest Philadelphians, 
after twenty years' acquaintance I think F. Coombs has shown himself 
more tender-hearted than any lady, and richly deserves Wm. Penn's old 
house and lot in Philadelphia, as the city of brotherly love. 

F. Langenheim, 722 Chestnut street, Philadelphia; Jno. A. McAllister, 
728 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, we fully concur by several hundred other 



citizens, including many of the most distinguished members of the Histor 
ical Society of Pennsylvania. 

F. Coombs having applied to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for 
an examination of his antecedents, particularly as a Pioneer of California 
in 1849, up to the date of his leaving there in 1852, has received the fol- 
lowin'T from the distinguished Rev. Richard Eddy, Librarian of that noblo 
Institution, and particular old triend of the late Rev. Thomas Starr King, 
the Union champion of California, from whom F. C. has a letter and 
subscriptions repeatedly forced into his pocket by R. T. S. K. 
(No. 54.) COPY. 

Although Mr. F. Coombs did not succeed in interesting the Legislature 
of California to examine his letters, papers, «&c. I have examined some 
of them from recipients of his bounties, and am assured that in his claims 
to have exceeded Franklin in economy and love of science, he has done 
BO, whilst in prodigality of money for the good of others, he has ex- 
celled the immortal Howard or any other man whatever. 

Richard Eddy, Librarian Historical Society 
of Pennsylvania. 
" The quality of mercy is not strained ; 
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven 
Upon the place beneath ; it is twice blessed t 
It blesscth him that gives and him that takes : 
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest ; it becomes 
The throned monarch better than his crown. 
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power 
The attribute to awe and majesty ! 
But mercy is above this sceptercd sway. 
It is an attribute to God himself; 
And earthly power doth then show likest God^s, 
When mercy season's justice." 

Philadelphia, Feb. 18, 1867. 
rhe aoove opinion was kindly given after examining the California 
deceased Rat from the damp cellar, and other proofs of self-denying patriot- 
ism. Many thanks, &c. 

From the Philadelphia Inquirer, November 7, 1866. 

The city of Philadelphia has been honored with a visit from a gentleman 
whose dress resembles the old style of 1776. His carte de visite and mental 
resemblances to our Revolutionary fathers is very striking, and this very day 
(5th November, 1866) is the anniversary of his advent in this city, twenty- 
seven years ago, when he was on a mission of benevolence, viz., to carry 
passengers by electricity ; and there are many of our citizens who remem- 
ber taking a ride on that car propelled by electro-magnetism, in 1839, at 
Peal's Museum, it having been the first application of it as a motive power. 
He has the certified copy from t\\e National Intelligencer of January 28, 1840, 
of his exhibiting the first telegraphic operation on this continent. As a 
Pioneer of California in 1849 of the most beneficial sciences he was the most 
successful — sulficiently so, to help every poor applicant by the hundred and 
thousand dollars in gold, and never then complaining of receiving nothing 
back. His importing alcove fifty cases of beneficial apparatus to benefit 
California in 1858, in order to found a beneficent Institution there, for want 
of appreciation and support resulted in a very severe loss ; a large portion 
of said importation returned to New York, having been destroyed by fire. 

He is energetically at work to repair the great loss by selling his 

CARTE DE VISITE AND HIS "POPULAR PHRENOLOGY," 

which are commended to public patronage, as he is worthy of encourage- 
ment and fully entitled to the titles he assumes of "Washington, the Second 
Conqueror," "The Modern Franklin," " The Matrimonial Promoter," &c. 

P. S. — It might truthfiilly be added, F. Coombs' Fine-Art Galleries were 
totally destroyed by fire I^Iay 4, 1850, June 22, 1850, May 4, 1851 ; yet, 



do 

remitting hundreds of dollars unsolicited to poor widows and orphans, 
from whom he declines receiving anything back ; but forty relatives, who 
have become rich by his charities forty years ago, deserve "hanging 
slightly," if they won't repay him only forty years' interest. 

J. B. Mayo, 303 Broadway, New York. 
The following abb'd. copy of a letter would have been destroyed in the 
great fire of May 4, 1851, had it arrived in the month it was written, as 
every cherished memento of the past ; valued gifts and property he was 
loaning money on without interest to poor Quilfeldt (see his letter), and 
others, with every item and memento of the past destroyed, except the gold 
dust on his person, even the cloak from his back, whilst rushing through 
the fiery furnace, the planked street and both sides of the street all on fire, 
and when returning consciousness came, he was sitting on a man's knee, 
having rushed through the flames far enough to be picked up insensible, 
half suffocated, but wholly uninjured ; thanks, ten thousand thanks to the 
old hair mattrass he found after the others had rushed out of Well's Build- 
ing, which formed a perfect shield for the first few seconds, as the flames 
swept down Clay street, just as from a blow pipe, a perfect hurricene of fire 
nearly sweeping him off his feet. He never can forget that race for life, 
equal to the Balaklava charge ! Only a few months before, on top of same 
building, he had to run from a fire of champagne corks, or worse still, the 
champagne itself, the following extracts also prove that his good sisters 
scold, and warn him of the danger, but alas ! in vain, of giving away every- 
thing, and leaving himself out in the cold, &c. 

[EXTBACT.] 

No. (55.) BouRTON, April, 16, 1851. 

(now at Trowbridge, Wilts.) 

My Dearest Brother : " I assure you words cannot express to you my 
thanks for your kindness, and what we should have done without it I can- 
not tell, we have been living on it ever since, and it is more than I can earn 
in a year here at the needle if I work ever so hard. 

I do hope you will save money enough to keep yourself in old age, do.do^ 
think of that, it is so bad to be old with nothing to depend on to support 
one, I do trust it will not be our case, at least, not yours, my dear brother. 

We sent according to your desire, £15 to Sarah, £10 each to Aunt 
Coombs and Amelia, and £15 to myself. It was, indeed, my dear brother, 
a very handsome present, and I pray God to bless and reward you a hun- 
dred fold, even in this life, and in the one to come, life everlasting. Aunt, 
no doubt, was quite pleased with the money ; poor soul, it must be very 

wretched for her to live with I s' wife, she is such a wretched creature." 

I remain my Dearest Brother, 

Your most affectionate Sister, 




ExpLANATiON.~The above and nearly fifty other letters of thanks, grati- 
tude, and warnmgs from his kind female relations were, no doubt, the occa- 
sion of his receiving from his more wealthy relatives, invitations to come 
home and be treated like the son of a Prince." F, Coombs 



91 

CHAPTER ON INTEREST COMPOUNDED. 

Those who are curious in perusing the progressive rate of accumulation by 
compound interest, we recommend the following item, observing that £50 and 
exchange added made one-fifth of the §1,300 alluded to, so his accumulation 
fund would amount on that gift alone to only thirty-two millions of dollars in 
I8G3. lie has paid more than double that rate. 

Read his voluntary self-sacrifice on interest from the San Francisco Police 
Gazette, December 12, 1863, " Heavy Interest : an Eastern paper says Daniel 
K. Vance borrowed in San Francisco, in 1851, the sum of $1,300 from Morris 
"Wise, payable on demand, with compound interest, at eight per cent, per 
month ; not being paid. Wise sued it and obtained a verdict, a month ago, for 
the snug little sum of one hundred and sixty million of dollars." 

P. S. The above process clearly exhibits the mode by which millionares are 
manufactured, it is simply by adding interest to interest without ceasing. 
His contempt of such, read his poetical description, " The Grovelling Wretch," 
page 34, Coombs' Popular Phrenology. 

P. S. This made the fifth time the Matrimonial Promoter has been simi- 
larly run after in New York, Australia, and California, to receive the deep- 
felt gratitude of those he had either entirely forgotten, or the kindnesses given 
them so many years before, viz., Captain Quilfeldt, John P. Hickey, Mr. and 
Mrs. Ilellwegens, and Peck, Pioneer, Violinist of California, from whence it 
mjiy be inferred his charities never can be fully known in this world. 

He greatly hopes those who have become rich by his means will now recip- 
rocate, as he has everything but money ready to bring out a volume of such 
incidents of love, for, like the sun, it shines on all, serene around the world. 
Coe and Lawrence's great fire, on September 18, 1865, destroyed more impor- 
tant property and greater loss to him than when burnt out three times in one 
year in California : he now greatly needs aid for this purpose. 

The following incident almost proves he took a 6-cent breakfast the same 
morning he gave the $20, &c., to the poor New York girl. Is not also the 
following incident corroborative of his California life, that " he lived like a 
Beggar to give like a Prince," loving the poor ones better than himself. 

55/^ Copy.) "In 1854, F. Coombs usually took breakfast at our Candy 
and Coffee Saloon, No. 517 Pearl Street, near Centre Street, taking but one 
cup of coffee and two slices of bread and butter, costing him only six cents at 
that time. Mr. and Mrs. Ndthausen. 

•* Witness, Chaa. G. Quilfeldt, known to Mr. Cooper, Gunsmith, Centre St." 

The following open letter of introduction (selected from about fifty others) 
jf thanks and gratitude, in his possession, from poor widows, grass widows, 
and female orphans, (who authorize their use.) This letter from an orphan 
poetess leads him to suppose his timely aid saved her from suicide for love just 
before leaving for Australia, where he had to pay five per cent, per week for 
one hundred dollars to pay freight. Peck, the Cat-Gut Scraper of California 
and Australia, did him this great favor out of gratitude, as he hailed F. Coombs 
as his benefactor on landing there. He wishes he had his deserts, for one 
of the Australian convicts (the horrid barbarian !) — to whom he exhibited the 
following letter — observed it was only a woman's opinion. 

(No. 56.) 5 

*' This gentleman's name is Mr. F. Coombs, and you will be pleased to cul- 
tivate his acquaintance, for he is one of the best of his sex, God-like in 
thought, word, and act toward all mankind. Oh, that earth was but peopled 
with all such like him, how blest, how happy we all should be I who then 
would wish to die ? Not I. 

" Nbw York Citt, May 1, 1857." 



92 

A GLORIOUS GOLDEN INVESTMENT IN 1851, 

TO PURCHASE LAND FOR LANDLESS STRANGERS, (ONE 

EXAMPLE OUT OF THREE,) SHOWING "HO^V TO 

GIVE EVERY MAN A NICE HOUSE AND LOT, 

AND A NICE LITTLE WIFE FOR 

HIMSELF." 

(Copy, Abbre., No. 57.) 

Transatlantic Express, 17 Cornhill, London. March 19, 1832. 
To F. Coombs, Esq. Montgomery St., San Francisco. 

Sir. — We have your letter of 30th Nov. last, covering a Bill of Ex-. 
change for thirty pounds, and in reference to your wishes, regarding its 
appropriations, we have seen M. Fox, M. P., with whom we have made 
enquiries, he whites to us as follows : 

Gents. — I can obtain no authentic or satisfactory information about the 
previous rights of common land in the inhabitants of Kilmington, and I 
apprehend a visit to the Parish, and probably, legal assistance v/ould be 
necessary, considering the extent to which such expenses would exhaust the 
remittance foi the proposed endowment, &c. 
(No. 58.) I am, gentlemen. Yours respectfully, W. J. Fox. 

In Mr. Fox's views we entirely concur, feeling convinced that the neces- 
sary lesial ex]3ense would more than exhaust the amount of your draft, 
we wait your further instructions as to the disposal of the money. We 
remain. Sir, your obedient servants, Edwards, Sanford & Co. 

(Verification.) 

The above letter is in the hand writing of Mr. James Eaves, then resi- 
dent partner in London, of the late firm of Edward S. Sanford & Co. New 
York. ^^ 

North West corner Morris street and .f^^ . 
Broadway, New York. ^ . 

March 13, 1866. 

P. S. Ascertaining from both these sources, it would be almost impos- 
sible to succeed in restoring that land or any portion of it to the sufiering 
poor who had been shamefully robbed of it, he did, perhaps, the next best 
thing, as follows ; for the widows. 
(No. 59.) Trowbridge. March, 29, 1859. 

My Dearest Brother. — You say you did not know for certain if we 
ever received the £10 each, w^hich, I assure you we did, and I am sorry to 
say, have spent it long ago, indeed, we could not have removed to this 
place had it not been for that help, and I am very glad we came here. 
Your affectionate sister, 





He recommended it to be applied to emigration, owing to the excessively 
high rate of exchange in California in 1850, this amount was nearly suffi- 
cient then to buy a or.rirter section, or 160 acres of Uncle Sam's dominion, 
altho' a small nmoiint ; y(3t having had his business ])lace9 destroyed three 
times in one year 1 l'k re, it seems considerable and somewhat remarkable, 
taken in connection with Dr. Duncombe's letter (No. 52.) by M'hich it 
appears our author presents the sublime spectacle, (as the sec'esh editor 
would not say this time,) because it seems like fighting his ally, the old 



British Tory Government •with 07ie hand and feeding her poor with the other^ 
and occurring a few months after English Jim's horrid attempts on his 
life or money seems to exhibit an extraordinary forgctfulness or for<zive- 
ness, or both, refresliing to contemplate in these degenerate days of re- 
venges, murders, &c., for real or fancied wrongs. 

This remittance also made the second one F. Coombs had made of his 
own free will, to endeavor to give land to the wretched half-starving poor 
of England, victims of the most cruel and rapacious land-grabbing rascals 
in the whole world, namely, the titled aristocracy of which Hon. and Rev. 
T. S. affords a most striking examjjle alluded to in I. Lush's letter, and 
about the same time (at least fifty years ago) these aristocratic thieves 
banded themselves together, and robbed the poor of all their common 
lands in England, no doubt, awarded to them by the paternal King Alfred 
the Great, who divided off England into Counties or Shires, and had re- 
mained in the use and occupancy of the poor from time immemorial until 
when he was a baby, and could just write his name as he well remembers, 
he was directed to sign a petition to Parliament, of what he is now aware 
was the Common Inclosure act, not for the homeless and houseless ones, but 
just the reverse, the largest property owner in the Parish of Kilmington; 
(Kiilman Town), appropriated the largest portion of common land, and as 
heir at law, to some real estate there, two portions were allotted him, and 
which he disposed of to his very conscientious cousin, I. L., at his own 
valuation, as admitted by himself, and by comparing notes with his Cousin 
Dinah when in Canada, 1853, he found he received about half its value, 
and instead of £30, he ought to have remitted at least £60, but from Mr. 
Foxs and Edwards & Co., letter (portions annexed) he found it was almost 
impossible to restore that land, even with gold, as the tory aristocratic 
policy the:e is to concentrate all the landed property in the hands of a very 
few, placing the landless poor in a state of dependence, almost amounting 
to slavery, hence, the Irish cannot live in Ireland, and whom these aristo- 
crats prefer to support partially in workhouses, jails, and penetentiaries, or 
they would starve to death, and some, undoubtedly, do so starve to death, 
by this most cruel, unnatural and suicidal policy of land monopoly, which 
the writer has entirely repudiated on three different occasions by his own 
example in 1828, to Marshs, by the present letter in 1851, and again in 
1857 annexed, deeming it sacreligious and impious to monopolize any land 
for himself by grabbing or buying a foot of land yet up to date,) believing 
it to be about as wicked to monopolize a poor man's homestead, as it would 
be to monopolize a poor msin's wife, which the barbarian Mormon Ehiers 
are doing, but give their poor brethren a better chance for land, because 
more abundant in the mid west, but the Secesh, the Mormons and English 
aristocrats are each vile monopolists, or thieves in their respective spheres, 
they would each of them rob a poor unfortunate of the glorious sunshine 
of their beneficent Creator, could they do so, as the English tories once 
did with their window tax. 

Even in this free and enlightened republican country, there are a few 
unhealthy mushroom aristocratic millionaires, springing up out of the 
carcass of dead slavery, who will bear looking after with a very sharp 
stick, and we hope to see the time arrive, when to monopolize more than 
one homestead, will l)e on a par with monopolizing more than one wife. Is 
he not still ahead of Congress here ? 

The sovereign people here fortunately have the big end of the stick in 
their own hands, and when Congress once more follows his example as they 
partially did in 1843, and 1849, by leading public opinion in the 
right direction of inviolability and equal rights of all to the pul)lic Rail- 
road lands, then shall every man own a nice house and lot, and a nice 
little wife for himself, for give, or help a man to a Homestead, and he ia 
half married already. 

So mote it be, read his free Homestead R. R. plan. 



(No. 60.) (<^0PT.) 

1 can testify from an examination of F. Coombs* lettera published, cardi^, 
»nd petition to the Legislature, that he forgot to mention before this date 
two incidents, one to giving a poor woman in Ohio more than sufficient to 
buy her a house and lot, in 1857, also the trip to Napa, in 1852, costing 
him nearly one hundred dollars, in his attempt to assist some poor 
mechanics of San Francisco to put a now agricultural machine to its work 
at ditching. 

E. H. Webb, 
142 Third-street, San Francisco, California. 
Witness, George Hiaam. 
September 10, 1859. 
The above excellent Tailor has removed to Sacramento City, California. 



Additional proof received November, 1865, from the most highly-respected 
American ladies, Mrs H. Nesbitt, Eiyria, Lorrain County, Ohio, Mrs. Balcb, 
and Mrs. Carle ton, 22 Essex, street, Jersey City. 

104 Leonard Street, next door to Broadway, 
New York, November 17, 1865. 

Is it not better thus to give like a Prince than to be treated like one 7 

Letters of Invitation from the Aristocracy of the Old World. 

(No. 61.) i^Copy Abbreviated.) 

My Dear Brother : — 

Our cousin, J. L ^li, sends you an invitation by me to visit us. He has 

, besides which he has married into the Earl of I s family, and there- 
fore enjoys the society of the highest people in the land, which will be a great 
advantage to you, and he says if you will come he will treat you like the son 
of a prince. Thus mixing with the highest folks in the land you would 
not perhaps have your feelings heartwrung to agony in seeing the wretched 
state of some of the poor in the mother country, whom I know you feel deeply 
for ; as you said you could not sleep at night for thinking of their misery. 

From your affectionate sister, 

Jan., 1853. E. Hindley. 

(No. 62.) [Extract.) Corroborated as follows : 

My Dear Cousin : — 

I was delighted to see your handwriting. (For Invitation see page 51) 
My dear wife joins in love. Believe me, my dear Fred., 

Your affectionate cousin, 

Brewham House, near Burton, Sept. 12, 1862. J— — h L— — H. 

He could not accept the Russian invitation either, because he suffers so 
greatly witnessing the distresses of their poor women, who generally labor and 
toil with scarcely a hope of reward ; and with slavery then existing in Russia 
and the poor serfs suffering a thousand wrongs, as sufiSciently evidenced, he 
hopes within these pages, by actions, speaking louder than the thunder tone» 
of a Cicero or a Demosthenes. F. G. 



95 
MATRIMONIAL ASPIRATIONS 

OF THl 

Pioneer Matrimonial Promoter of Califoniia, 



(No. 63.) 

" To F. Coombs, Esq. — Dear Sir : We have a most pleasant recollectioa 
of your sayings and doings in New York, 1854, when a rich returned Califor- 
nian You observed you were rich enough for two people, and you wished to 
marry and share with a lady without a dollar, as the poorest lady was good 
enough for you, saying you had a mighty desire to make every lady happy, 
etc. 

** Your giving us five dollars for a poor robbed man, and entirely forgetting 
it, clearly shows your habits at that time. 

" Your friends and well-wishers, 

•* IIknry & Elizth. Hellwkgen, 
'*Bush Sired, near Toll Gate. 
"Sue Francisco, CALiroRNiA, July 10, 1862." 

A NOVEL MODE OF SURPRISING POOR SEWING-GIRLS IN NE\V 
YORK CITY, 1854. 

Marrying a poor ragged one in 1855, was nearly as wicked. If all the rich 
were to marry all the poor, would not this realize a beautiful equality so long 
dreamed of by Poets and Philosophers. Query: Does not this almo.^t surpass 
the romantic love of Romeo for Juliet ? for Byron truly says, ** Take wives I 
takes lives! take everything! !1 but keep your hands out of his breeches' 
pockets," or who will not sell his hopes of Heaven for gold ; for preach and 
pray whatever they may, every mean and unprincipled ac^ of a man's lifo is 

{>roof most positive of the absence of all faith and charity, in so-called love, 
aw, business, and politics, is not the ever-recurring, ever-repeated ques- 
tion, will it pay ? then peruse the following, and ask how was that $20 to 
pay? for no chance or thought then existed of its being published in the 
papers next day, or any other day ; greater kindnesses having been done and 
unknown for nearly forty years. Who will now help the Benefactor of the 
poor and in Jail (caused by kindnesses) in three quarters of the world out of 
tour — a very naughty, wicked world ! or the people in it. 

(No. 64.) New York, May 4, 1861. 

"To F. Coombs, Esq, — Dear Sir: I was perfectly delighted accidentally 
meeting you yesterday on Broadway, although you did not recognize me at 
first, nor had you the least recollection of your great generosities in 1854, 
(when you were representing California,) but which generosities I can never 
forget, having seen you voluntarily give a poor sewing-girl something done 
up in paper for a surprise, with an injunction not to be opened just then 
on any account, and which she found on opening at her work-room to con- 
tain a twenty-dollar gold-piece. I saw you also offer a poor English lady 
some California jewelry, but which I saw her decline, saying you were too 
generous and kind. 

"The kind caution and advice you also gave at the same time I know had 
the most marked and beneficial effects to my own personal knowledge ; and 
such gratitude I feel towards you for your goodness to my sex, that, had I 
but a loaf of bread, I am willing to share it with you at any time. 

"Yours, respectfully, 

"Mrs. P s" 

(1) 



(No 644.) . . ^^ 

'' Having become acquainted witn the abote lady writer, I am perfectly 
satisfied of its entire truthfulness, and will be pleaded to show her picture, 
and that of her little daughter, as she is now most happily married in thii 
city. Joseph B. Mayo, Photographer, 

♦« No. 303 Broadway." 
V City, County, and State of New York, ss. 

"Joseph B. Mayo, of the City of New York, being duly sworn, deposes and 
says, that he is of lawful age, and that he has read the foregoing instrument, 
and knows the contents thereof to be true. Joseph B. Mayo. 

" Subscribed and sworn before me, this 7th day of June, 1866. 

" C. A. DiNGiN, Notary Public/' 

(65.) Additional proof. 

" Having become intimate with the lady writer of the above letter, and 
having satisfied myself of its correctness, corroborated also by having called 
with other ladies, on behalf of F. Coombs, on his rich relations of this city to 
obtain more payment than twenty dollars in 1849, (twenty-two years after 
date,) for assisting them out of failure and misery to affluence and plenty, in 
these free and happy United States of America, but who, to our great dis- 
appointment, refuse to make any further payment, acting as ungrateful as 
another rich but mean family, numbering twenty-three persons, and by their 
own testimony, in F. Coombs's possession, I have seen, acknowledging he 
gave them the means to purchase two hundred acres of land, also about forty 
years ago, and as they truly say, *' when they were in most necessitous circum- 
stances," but who now refuse to reciprocate, except by paying him high com- 
pliments, instead of hard dollars, meanly replying he has not a legal claim 
against them, grimly console him by saying " it is no use crying over shed 
milk." The above two claims, if reckoned at only fifty dollars each, and cal- 
culated at a far less rate of interest than F. Coombs has had to pay, and 
which he voluntarily saved Captain Quilfeldt tind others, in California,'1850. 
from paying, (see Letter No. 20,) or placing it at the rate of cent, per cent, 
per year, which he gladly oJBFered to pay in 1849, on leaving for California, 
ofi'ered his note for two hundred dollars, payable within one year, for one 
hundred cash, and was refused by those people, who were then living partly 
on his bounty bestowed more than twenty years before. Having examined the 
calculations at that rate of interest compounded, the above advances then made 
to these then poor families forty years ago would now amount to the snug 
little sum of $5,497,55,761,459,20, or five,thousand four hundred and ninety- 
seven billions, fifty-five thousand seven hundred and sixty-one millions, forty- 
five thousand nine hundred and twenty dollars, after deducting twenty dollaro 
from each account paid in 1849 by each party. 

N S , 

♦' May 16, 1866. No. 173 Hudson Street, New York." 

Is not F. C. a huge Billionare on claims. 

N. B. Miss N. S. generously allows her name to be used, as F. C. was the 
fellow pioneer of the unfortunate late Mr. S., the California Pioneer and 
Explorer, her relative, who was killed by the destructive agency of steam, 
which, by referring to the Philadelphia U. S. Gazette, November 5, 1839, F. 
Coombs had fully succeeded in superseding by the Electro-Magnetic Power, 
so far as to carry passengers on railroad for pay. Congress expended twenty 
thousand dollars with less results in 1849. Alluded to in Letter No. 6. J. M. 
Ward, San Leandra Contra Costa, California. — Ed. 

P. S. Relative of Mr. S., the California Pioneer and Explorer, and a 
former associate of F. Coombs as such, hence Miss S.'s great kindness to F. 
Coombs. — Ed. 

P. S. About forty years ago, F. C. helped so many other relations, and 
allowed others to help themselves to his hereditary property, he soon got in 
jail for debt. 



97 

(Proof No. 66.) 

GLORIOUS MATRIMOMIAL AND EMIGRATION INVESTMENTS, 

FORTY ODD YEARS AGO. 

Proofs obtained, — but not until forty years after the occurrence, — ofF. 
Coombs having been a promoter of Emigration and of Matrimony to New 
York and Brooklyn cities, assisting poor emifrrants to become half-million- 
aires; but, alas! no more gratitude than the miserable creature Marsh, after 
getting them all so happily married, too. 
To FREDERICK COOMBS : 

Dear Sik : Having presented your account for bedding and provisions 

furnished to Mr. R d U n and family, to enable them to cross the 

Atlantic Ocean, aboout forty years ago, and informing him I was your pro- 
fessional adviser, he did not deny the claim, but said that it was outlawed, 
from the length of time elapsed, to which I replied that money advanced 
for such a beneficent purpose l)ecame most emphatically a debt of honor of 
the most binding and sacred character, to bo discharged before any other 
claim whatever; to which he replied that you could come and see the family 
at South Brooklyn, observing also that he was well off, and on inquiring of 

a gentlemen in an adjoining office below, he said he thought Mr. U n 

was worth half a million of dollars, and having seen the letter fi'om Mrs. 

Hindley to you, Mrs. U n seems to confirm this opinior 

(Extract, No. 67.) 

Trowbridge, January 16, 1857. 

My Dearest Brother : Mrs. U n and family seem to be very prosper- 
ous indeed. Don't you ever see them ? She wrote, me not long since, say- 
ing how well her children were marrying. 

With kindest love and best wishes, I remain your aflfect. sister, 

E. Hindley. 

Having also had the pleasure of seeing another letter from the above lady, 
dated, Bourton, April 16, 1851, acknowledging receipt of £50 for poor 

widow, fifty dollars of which was sent to Mrs. U n's late poor old aunt 

Coombs, and without whose aid and your own you assure me the U 

could not have left England at that time, he having lost everything as a 
cabinetmaker at Shaftsbury, a wretched English town, where there was (as 
you say) more beer than water in it ; " a nice place that for Charles Dick- 
ens, Esq., or jolly Mark Tapley; a much nicer place than Eden." 

Sincerely, congratulating you in having thus accidently obtained the 
proofs of having been a most fortunate matrimonial promoter, not only in 
California, but in New York and Brooklyn cities, England and Canada, 
and having heard that it is a rule in California, those who advance funds 
to miners to prospect, share and share alike, placing labor and capital on 
en equal footing, and your having so advanced funds forty years ago to 
others to prospect to such advantage, and paying you only twenty dollars 
in 1849, involving you in great risk and subsequent loss of a thousand 
dollars from gratitude, seemed to fairly entitle you to share and share alike 

with the half millionaire a 1, which I hope you may soon realize by 

appealing to their sacred honor and gratitude as suggested by your counsel, 
for "truly the friend in need is the friend indeed," and surelv such claims 
can never be outlawed. 

The above facts were stated to be, in substance, correct by the counsel 
employed by F. Coombs. I. Thorn. 

45 Robinson St., Feb. 13, 1868. 

Bedding and provisions being the grand elementary supports of matri- 
mony, particularly where said material aids help persons out of failures ana 
poverty into affluence and plenty, when people wish to get married and live 

happy ; hence the great matrimonial success of the U n, Lush, and 

Marsh families, unquestionably constituting you a most beneficial matri- 
monial promoter, both in New York and Brooklyn cities, England and 
CaDada, and if they do not already shine numerically strong as the 



98 

Marshes, your other matrimonial protege^ yet it is believed they are not Ui 
in arrears. I. T. 

(Proof 4th.) 

Had these families remained at the old tumble-down of Shaftsbury, 
Dorsetshire; had they been so well married, is a question we think can 
easily be answered by the fact that probably that old town (like hun- 
dreds of others) has scarcely added one hundred to its inhabitants in forty 
years, so effectual y is marriage there suppressed for want of means to live 
even ; proof as follows in F. Coombs' possession : 

67" My daughter, K., has been engaged for several years to a most worthy 
young man of Frome (near Shaftsbury), but cannot get married, for want 
of means. Yours, etc., E. Hindley." 

Charles Dickens is urgently recommended to call on said family of half- 
millionaire a s, and put their case in his next outrageous attack on 

everything American, as a set-off to his barbarous cruelty in sending his 
architectural hero, Martin Chulzlewit, back to poor old England, where he 
has probably nearly starved to death by this time. Poor Martin Chuzzle- 
wit, poor Charles Dickens, who has probably prevented thousands from 
coming to Ameriba and bettenng their condition, whilst F. Coombs has the 
satisfaction of obtaining the proofs — but not until forty years after date — 
of its occurrei:ce — he helped two poor families here who have, under Re- 
publican and semi-Republican institutions, increased to nearly fifty persons, 
and all became rich and, like Charles Dickens, so grateful I and kind to 
poor relations who helped them here. 

The following reply from one of the most distinguished lawyers of San 
Francisco, corrobbordted by several editorials from the oldest papers in San 
Francisco, establishes your fame in California as i\iQ pioneer matrimonial 
promoter of that State. I. T. 

EXTEACT, No. i68.) 

San Francisco, Jan. 7, 1859. 
F. COOMBS, Esq. : 

Dear Sir : — In answer to your inquiry as to the claim of $84 against 
George Pierson, of Santa Clara, which you sent me for collection in 1851, 
Mr. Pierson professed himself desirous of paying the debt, but was without 
the means. He was then interested in a quartz claim which he expected 
would soon pay him handsomely, and then he would settle your account. 
Yours truly. 



^^^/^<^?<^.^^..^ 



It thus appears F. C. only applied once in nine yeai^s, for the following 
was discovered amongst some old papers recently by F. Coombs : 

November 20, 1850. 
Mr. G. Pierson, To F. Coombs, Dr., 

Cash, ..... $80.00 
Goods - - - > - 20.00 

Received on acct. during the honeymoon, - 16.00 

Due, $84.00 

The Russ House, entire block, having been purchased about that time for 
fourteen dollars, some odd cents, (now probably worth half a million) the 
kind editor of the P. Gazette^ who roughly computed the usual rate of 
California interest compounded for nine years, reckoned in 1864, it would 
have amounted to thousands of dollars, perhaps millions now. 

The author's first matrimonial investment in gold in California at only 
half the interest compounded, he was so fortunate as to save Col. Quilfeldt 
and others from paying in 1850, would now amount to the nice little sum 
of $11,010,848, or eleven millions ten thousand eight hundred and forty- 



99 

eight dollars gold, by only doubling the amount every year since. Prodi- 
gious ! ain't we rich on that matrimonial investment alone, to make a single 
lady happy for life, perhaps, save her life, (see the engraving, page29.) 
from actual tacts; occurred at Earle's Hotel, N. Y., Oct. 31,1863. As 
marriages, they say, are formed in Heaven ; this investment was evidently, 
to carr\- out Heaven's designs, surely, ev( ry marrying man and Congress 
man will vote to settle up sucli a most righteous claim, because he never 
knew or saw the lady in all his life, that clearly shows he wanted to get 
all the ladies married, a wish he could do much to gratify, if Congress pays 
him ; and the good marrying people, run him in for President ! But fifty 
two titles are suflicient honor, and he, therefore, most res])ectfully declines 
this additional high honor, but he presses for the cash, or he can never get 
married himself any more, for it cost him much gold before — five tires and 
forty thieves have used him up, and what an insignificant thing is twelve 
millions dollars in comparison to an immortal soul, " for what profitteth the 
whole world, should a man lose his immortal soul," and as disappointed 
love is the most violent and uncontrollable of all emotions, for how many 
millions of impassioned headstrong demented fair creatures have rushed 
unbidden into the presence of their most beneficent Creator. Yes, bene- 
ficent to the most degraded, the most lowly fallen of all his creatures. 

Be ours the dear delight to have fieely loaned or given (just as they 
pleased) all the gold they asked for, to consummate their earthly happi- 
ness and joy, and in writing to Mr. Belknap, begged him not to distress 
the young couple, and hence nine years elapsed before an answer was re- 
ceived, by the most unexpected accidental meeting of the distinguished 
lawyer and his client, in a place the client thought he had left forever ; 
seven years before the proof is equally remarkable as the investment, and 
loudly calls on Congress for a suitable patriotic compensation commensu- 
rate with its immense importance to the well-doing and welfare of society 
and further encouragement of all future golden matrimonial promoters; the 
Promoter in this case received one oz. back during the delightful honey- 
moon, and he remembered notliing more distinctly about this little aflfair 
than as Mr, Pierson and the $100 was leaving the gallery, the donor sa- 
luted him as follows : " well, look here, stranger, you live somswhere, I 
presume." " Oh ! yes, certainly," he replied. At Santa Clara, the first time, 
probably he became aware of the existence of such a place, scarcely a place 
then, and so he went on his way rejoicing, as the chronicles of that place, 
no doubt, will inform any anxious enquirer, that Geo. Pierson was happily 
married there, perhaps tlie first couple after the admission of California to 
the glorious Union, or rather its celebration in California, Oct. 29th, 1850, 
of glorious memory, promoting both the national and matrimonial Union 
very nearly together, or it might have been on 'the same day, this is a favor, 
a distinguished honor, which but few can claim he firmly believes. 

See H. Hasseltine's letter, (No. 18.) Proving how much more delightful 
to give one hundred dollars to get all the ladies married (who applied), 
rather than indulge in intoxicating champagne, although it cost nothing 
then, it was drink, fight, or run, and he choose the latter. Was he right or 
was he wrong ? 

Congress will be so good as to respond favorably to matrimony on this 
occasion, it is greatly to be hoped, and if they ever wish to get happily 
married themselves, he will help them along, for it is a necessity of man's 
existence to wish to do whatever he has done before, particularly so what- 
ever he did as a Pioneer of California, for gold is ever the severest test of love. 
for then, and since it was " your money or your life," for as Lord Byron 
truly writes about greedy Englishmen. " Take wives, take lives, take every- 
thing, but keep your hands out of his breeches pocket." So truly exem- 
plified in the career of some Califomians, in Pioneer times particularly, if 
caught in the act of stealing, by such desperadoes as English Jim or Jenkins, 
&c., the first victim to popular fury, who Mas hung for only stealing a safe. 



l6o 

GLORIOUS CHAPTER ON HOLY MATRIMONY. 

Proofs by letters in Fred. Coombs* possession, showing how he became 
the Pioneer Union Matrimonial Promoter (with gold,) in California, in 1850 ; 
also a Holy Ma'rimonial Promoter above forty years ago to three poor 
families now become immensely numerous and rich, relations of his. 
Largely helping to populate by proxy this glorious land of freedom and 
equality five years before seeing it himself, a rare honor, for which he prays 
Congress to reward him. 

Showing how our author became a Matrimonial Promoter four and 
one-half times or more in California and elsewhere. He having had the 
good fortune to have assisted a matrimonial enterprise within one year after 
his arrival in the land of gold, and within a few months after he had been 
burnt out in May and June fires in 1850 ; deems an authentic history of 
how our Pioneer also became a Matrimonial Promoter quite a number of 
times indirectly, but this California case he believes to have been the most 
remarkable in the matrimonial annals of San Fransisco, if not in the his- 
tory of the whole world, under the peculiar circumstances, and in such a 
wild place as California then exhibited herself to outsiders, almost appal- 
ling to readers, of her terriole Vigilance Committee executions. This paper 
also embraces the Ladies of New York, appeal to R. U. and Son for jus- 
tice, referring his whole case to the highest court of equity in the land, 
for some remuneration for the following and other great golden patriot- 
isms forty years past, particularly for these, his matrimonial investments. In 
that respect he claims to have gone ahead of our Holy Mother Church, 
which usually charges a fee for tying the knot matrimonial, whilst he, on 
the contrary, furnished the gold without interest, security, or memorandum, 
when gold was worth or commanded fifteen per cent, per month interest. 

No. 69. (Proofs.) 

York Mills, 6 miles from Toronto, January 6, 1859. 

Dear Cousin : We can never forget the kind presents you made our boys 
when leaving England in such necessitous circumstances to the comfortable 
independence we now enjoy, under the blessings of Divine Providence and 
which your generous presents aided very materially in our early settlement, 
now thirty odd years since, but which will ever be freshly remembered by 
us ; therefore, cousin, do come again to Canada, and make our house your 
future home, though our climate is cold, our hearts are ever warm towards 
you. 

Sincerely your cousins, 

p. S. Have you learnt that your cousin Joseph Lush has married a sprig 
of nobility with a fortune of seven thousand pounds sterling. 

The following extract will sLow^ that it was his landed estate fetched 
the heiress. Land is there higher held than gold. F. C. 

Brewham House, near Bruton, Sept. 12, 1863. 
(No. 70) 

My Dear Cousin : With regard to the property I bought of you, really 
I acted conscientiously at the time, and believe you had quite as much as 
any valuer could have put it at, and ir any person had been induced lo give 
a little more, it would have been merely to annoy me. I appreciated, and 
still do, your kindness in giving me the offer of it. Jos. Coombs followed 
your example and left it entirely to me to give him my own price— believe 
me my dear Fred. 

Your affectionate cousin, 



loi 

(The following shows the lawlessness of the Hon. & Rev'd., T. S. 
Selwyn, successor to Digby,) "as to the part of your land planted l)y Selwyn, 
the new bank made by him was levelled, the hedge destroyed and the 
old fence restored to its pristine state, before you sold it," could not this 
Rev. have remembered, ''Thou shalt not destroy thy neighbors' landmark," 
and an orphan's land, then about 10 years of age. Men have been mur- 
dered for less outrages in California. 

His land thus grabbed or half paid for, possibly now forms part of the 
parsonage of Kilmington, Somerset, occupied or in the gift of the Earl of 
Ilchester, cousin to the sprig of nobility alluded to in Wm. and Dinah 
Marsh's letter above. 

The following in reply to F. C. for reciprocity, exhibits more particulars 
than "\Vm. and D.'s letter, but the kindest and noblest cousin a man 
ever had, (as she fought for the orjohan boy,) but she is gone to her glorious 
Home, and man will revert to Barbarism when left alone, and lost his 
better half, as the following shows. 

(Extract No.71.) 

WniTKcnuRcn, Dec. 19. 1865. 
Dear Sir : — 

About the year 1828 I removed with my wife and children to Canada, 
when you very kindly gave two guns to my two infant boys. I gave the 
guns in exchange for 200 acres of wild land, but on which I had to do 
settlement duties and pay for the title deeds, added to about thirty years' 
interest, has cost me the full value of the land (interest on payment for title 
deeds, F. C. ?) So, in truth, your guns had little to do with the increase of 
any of my property, and none at all with that at York Mills. When with your 
cousin, I was a housekeeper. You always had a hearty welcome with us ; 
now I am a wanderer myself amongst my children who, with their children, 
number twenty-three, and still increasing. 

Yours, etc. Wm, Marsh. 

On receipt of this most ungrateful letter, F. Coomhs wrote, as the 200 
acres of land had been so little advantage to Marsh for forty years, he would 
now like to have that land. That shut him up I And after living, rent free, 
on 200 acres of his land for forty years, he has no gratitude. 

On visiting the family, in 1833, at York Mills, (five years after the gift,) 
then appropriately called Hogg's Hollow, almost their entire possessions 
consisted of a log cabin, in a dense forest, and without that land he might 
have remained a laborer, at one dollar per day, and his family small in pro- 
portion, no doubt. Twenty-three increase in family — and marriages in pro- 
portion — in forty years, upon 200 acres of land, is perfectly natural ; for, 
without the products of the land, no living thing can be born. That 200 
acres is now worth $10,000, according to the opinions of others. He was 
not related to the giver until about fifteen years after the gift, — marrying 
cousin Dinah, alluded to, as follows : 

(Extract, No. 72.) 

BouRTON, April 16, 1851. 

My Dearest Brother : Marsh has been over to sell some property of 
Dinah's at Kilmington, which is to realize a fortune for her two children in 
America. He speaks how very well they are getting on. 

Your affectionate sister, 

E. HiNDLEY. 

On visiting cousin Dinah Marsh and family, in 1853, in conversation as to 
the price they received for her property in England similar to his own, he 
found he received about half as much for payment from conscientious cousin 
Joseph Lush, and although he has cashed the checks, £50 at a time, for- 
warded, unsolicited, to his poor aunt and cousins, yet no appeal yet made 
for these great and important services, forty years past, besides getting him 
married to a sprig of nobility, has ever brought one dollar payment. 
Proud men love gold and life alike. F. Coombs. 



102 

As facts live forever, he hopes the preceding most remarkable golden facts 
may open the eyes of the toiling millions to their true interests in selecting 
their next President ; and should the sovereign people deem him worthy of 
that honor and should add the title of President of United States to his other 
fifty titles, he would not peremptorily decline, for such a position would more 
readily afford him an opportunity of gratifying his life-long wishes, viz., to 
get every lady married and to give every poor man a 7iice liouse and lot, as 
amply proven by these passages in his history for nearly half a century past. 
Homesteads and wives for the toiling millions will be his rallying cry if 
nominated. 

Infallible directions by which all may secure the greatest of earthly blessings 
for themselves and posterity, Homesteads and Wives, and the only sure 
remedy for the ruinous rates of rent now paid by the toiling millions. 

The author first promulgated his Free Homestead Railroads plan to Cross 
this Continent in Chicago, HI., soon after the discovery of gold in California, 
hoping to attract emigration there and to make the desert blossom Uke the 
rose, but the Secesh in California bitterly opposed this and all other good 
things for the millions. 

The following facts exhibit the great anxiety the Free Ditcher has for years 
experienced, to give the millions Free Homes on a Railroad, hoping to lift the 
poor out of damp cellars, etc. : 

(No. 73.) San Francisco, Bee. 2, 1858. 

" Mr. F. Coombs gave several lectures for the construction of the Atlantic 
and Pacific Railway. We were all greatly pleased with his ideas as eminently 
patriotic. John N. Bradley.'* 

(No. 74.) Sacramento, April 19, 1860. 

" We also certify that Mr. C. gave lectures on our comer (Sixth and J 
streets) on the same subject, April 15, 1859. Mitchell & Adams." 

The most trite and common saying in California in pioneer times was, that 
every man (and woman also) then exhibited their true, natural, and undisguised 
characters, because the abundance of gold enabled all to gratify or exhibit their 
lifelong, most cherished wishes ; the most generally expressed wish of aU 
being to get married as soon as they had made their pile. 

Hence our author, with pride and pleasure, submits the testimonies of 
Califomians, that his earliest investments in 1850 were for the promotion of 
Holy Matrimony, both directly in the case of George Pierson and Lady, and 
indirectly in the presents of gold and pictures to licwis and Anthony, of New 
York city, and in remitting gold for the wretched paupers of England, hoping 
to buy them land as he had done in 1828, to the Marsh's Infant Boys and their 
amazing increase, shows most conclusively that by giving a lady or gentleman 
a Homestead they are almost half married already, and which brings us to the 
great vital question «f the day — Homesteads and Wives for the millions, one 
and inseparable, one being equally necessary as the other for man's present 
and eternal welfare. 



103 

The glorious, intelligent ballot-box can command this great fiat to go fortli, 
as the only means of saving this so-called land of republican freedom from the 
aristocracy and pauperism of Europe ; and no man whatever can receive tlie 
author's vote who is not pledged to the inviolability of the public domain to 
be sacredly preserved as homes for the unborn millions yet to populate this 
vast continent ; and in his humble opinion the whole public domain should be 
subdivided into Homesteads, with railroads located by Government surveys, 
and inviting actual settlers by every inducement, even assisting some inmost 
need who desire to cultivate the soil, this would be the true policy of 
the Government, he has ever advocated and practised, insisting also on a land 
limitation law, for he has ever, as now, urged, an American is only nominally 
free, whose homo or wife is controlled or in possession of another, and he is 
more or less the vassal of another man. The author maintains and insists 
there is no real freedom whatever in this comparative land of freedom where 
some greedy men own or control enough of God's earth to form a dukedom 
or German principality together, and these proud autocrats already put on the 
foreign badge of servitude on their less cunning and greedy fellow men. 

It therefore requires no great prophetic vision to foretell that even in this 
much-boasted land of freedom and equality we are verging towards an 
overshadowing monopoly on the one hand, and a wretched, degraded, pauper 
population on the other, just as existing in Europe, rendering many of those 
countries almost a Pandemonium for an honest and poor working laborer. 

The intelhgent, glorious ballot-box can reform all this, and let your greedy 
monopolists appropriate everything else but keep their sacrilegious hands oflf 
of God's footstool, this beautiful Mother Earth, to which the proudest man can 
neither add to nor diminish a single grain of sand. 

This beneficent plan alone can save this glorious country from utter 
perdition to which we are on the high road. Visit and witness yoiu* garrets 
and more wretched damp cellars, where certain death is accelerated to all 
who breathe their pestilential vapors, as the author has experienced personally 
bleaching his hair, &c. Therefore, vote for no man who is not emphatically 
for a Free Homestead Railroad Plan, and a rigid, righteous land limitation law, 
and instead of the old odious policy of taxing the agricultural laborer and 
producer of wealth, offer premiums and inducements to every man to cultivate 
and beautify God's beautiful earth, and be a whole-souled, farming, free man, 
instead of a hireling to a Shylock speculator, at starvation prices. '* Vote 
yourself a farm, boys, for Uncle Sam is rich enough," &c. 

The author most respectfully submits the golden proofs of his deeply-felt. 
convictions on this vital question of Homesteads and Wives, having on three 
occasions voluntarily remitted the means to buy land for the wretched 
landless poor in Canada, 1828, England, 1851, Ohio, 1857, the latter fourfold in 
value to the others — other most sti-Iking proofs of his devotion to the flag of 
our beneficent Union, and his free gift of the Electric Telegraph, 1840, 
confirms it ; also helping poor Americans by the hundreds and thousands in 
gold in California and hundreds iu New York city, to the poor and needy, 
exhibits his leading passion to be to promote the union matrimonial, and gives 
liomea to the homeless. 



' ' ' 104 

FROM THE CALIFORNIA POLICE GAZETTE. 
FEBRUARY 6, 1864. 

LYNCH LAW AT BANNOCK MINES, 

THIRTEEN MEN E&N6ED, 

GREAT SALT LAKE, FEBRUARY b, 1864. 



The following extraordinary, and thrilling accounts extracted from the 
leading papers of San Francisco, copy of warrant, Lawyer's Bill, «&c., by 
which the author can almost prove he has been in jail four and one-half 
times, and every time by mistake^ but no mistaJce^ but he was in there every 
time except the half time they dont catch him. First time at Napoleon's 
rock bound Island prison in 1833, at St. Helena. Second time in London, 
about 1829, &c., the one-half time in Montreal, 1842 ; and third and one half 
in Chicago, 1849, making fourth and one-half times in California in 1864, 
and is very like the other times as follows. 

Extract from California Police Gazette, Feb. 6, 1864, which was the first 
startling announcement the dear public had of the terrible doings of Uncle 
Freddy, heading of column, 

UNCLE FREDDY ARRESTED. 

Fred'k Coombs, "the Pioneer ditch-digger, who has given away thousands of 
dollars to poor ladies to assist them in getting married,^^ was arrested by detec- 
tive Officer Chapell, last night, on a charge of grand larceny. The complaint 
was made by Mrs. Hanchen Rappaport, who charges " Uncle Freddy " with 
having stolen a lot of diamonds and certificates of mining stocks. The 
case will come up before Judge Shepherd in the Police Court to day. 

From the daily Morning Call, San Francisco, Feb. 6, 1864. 

Uncle Freddy in Limbo. Officer Chappel arrested Uncle Freddy Coombs, 
(alias, Washington 2d.) yesterday, upon a charge of grand larceny preferred 
by Mrs. Hanchen Rappaport. The following facts will, perhaps, explain 
that Uncle Freddy, though charged with crime, is not really so bad as 
would appear upon a first glance. Some months ago he sold to the com- 
plainant a series of dissolving views, taking a note secured by a deposit of 
jewelry as collateral in part payment. A few days ago the note matured, 
when the drawer tendered payment in greenbacks and demanded the jew- 
elry. Coombs refused to accept the legal tenders and deliver the jewelry, 
and thereupon found himself within the clutches of the law upon a grave 
charge. He gave bail for his appearance in court to answer to the charge, 
and when the case is enquired into on Monday next, some rich develop- 
ments may be expected respecting the antecedents of the parties con- 
cerned. 

From the Daily Evening Bulletin, San Francisco. 
Tuesday evening, February 9, 1864. 

'* Uncle Freddy sat in Court the whole morning through, and even had 
he committed some petty crime, that alone were sufficient punishment. The 
old gentleman's benevolent face assumed a look of wonder at the stories 
he heard and the language used, and altogether the impression seemed to 
be strong on his mind that it were better to be a Free Ditcher or a Matri- 
moiiiaL Promoter in some vast wilderness, than to dwell in such a horrible 
place. It has already been stated that Uncle Freddy's sole oflfence consists 




105 

in having refused to take greenbacks in payment of a note which 8pecifie« 
that gold coin is to be given for its redemption. The note was secured by 
jewelry deposited vrith Uncle Freddy, and it is because of his refusing to 
surrender the jewelry and note to the greenback demand, that the charge 
of larceny was made against him. 



From the San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin^ 

February, 9, 1864. 
The Police Court to-day. It has already been stated that Uncle Freddy's 
sole offence consists in having refused to take greenbacks in payment for a 
note which specifies that gold coin is to be given for its redemption. 

From the same paper, Feb. 10, 1864. 
Washington the second Conqueror, Uc of the buckskin garments, popu- 
larly known as Free Ditcher the first, or "Washington the Second is tri- 
umphantly released from his troubles, the Police Court deciding that the 
charge of grand larceny against him was nothing but an attempt to force 
greenbacks on him in payment of a note, which by special contract called 
for gold, the case was therefore abruptly dismissed. 

From the Daily Morning Call, Feb. 10, 1864. 
Uncle Freddy all right. The charge of grand larceny preferred against 
Uncle Freddy Coombs, was yesterday dismissed, his Honor learning from 
the evidence that the entire thing was gotten up for the purpose of getting 
the defendant to accept greenbacks for a note that he held which called 
for gold. 



From the Daily Alta California, San Francisco, Feb. 17th, 1864. 
An important matter settled Uncle Freddy, the Pioneer ditcher of Napa, 
and Matrimonial Utii&n Promoter, has given the world another proof of 

hia boundless patriotism and benevolence. Hie claim against the Rappa- 
ports amounted to nearly six hundred dollars, principal and interest, etc.; 
but to save litigation and do honor to humanity, he has compromised the 
claim for the four hundred dollars in coin which was called for by the note, 
and the matter thus passes from the records of the civil and criminal courts. 



From the California DemoJcrat, Feb. 19th, 1864 ; translated from Ger- 
man. 

" Act as I have acted, so can say our noble philosopher Uncle Coombs, 
who as Washington the second, has acted most nobly. lie had reduced the 
note of the Rappaports from six hundred dollars down to fbur hundred, 
and most generously accepted the latter sum as payment in full." 



Abbreviated Copy of Warrant of Arrest, Police Judges Court. 

Hanchen Rappaport personally appeared before me this 4th day of Feb., 
1864, who deposes that the crime of Grand Larceny w^as committed, amount- 
ing to one thousand and thirty dollars — $1,030.00. Said deponent ac- 
cuses Frederick Coombs of feloniously converting said property which is 
secreted either upon the person of said Coombs, or in or about the premises 
occupied by him, to wit : a basement room under the Hat Store of Tiffany 
& Co., Washington Street, San Francisco, California. Sworn and subscribed 
before me, Feb. 4th, 1804. 

P. W. Sheppard, Police Judge. Hanchen Rappaport. 

(No. 75.) 

San Francisco, Feb. 12th, 1864. 

Copy: Received of F. Coombs, Esq., twenty dollars for professional ser- 
vices in defending him on a charge of grand larceny. Mr. Coombs was 
honorably discharged in the police court, the charge having been considered 
an outrage. 

BucHAN & Wade, Attorneys, etc, Washington Street, San Francisco. 



106 

In justice to Mr. Coombs we state that the arrest of Mr. Coombs took 
place after he renewed the note, givmg more time and made a deduction on 
it of $190.00 (gold,) asking do interest on either note. At this time Mr. C. 
was living in a damp and uncomfortable basement of a house, on the score 
of economy ; by reason of its condition being allowed to live in it by the 
proprietors free of rent. 

BucHAN & Wade, Attorneys, San Francisco. 

By the following it almost seems like retribution quickly following most 
wicked perjury and base ingratitude and the despicable characters fell into 
the trap contrived for others. 

From the Evening Bulletin, Friday, March 25th, 1864. 

Fourth District Court; Sawyer J. The case of El. Malhabur, Henry 
Burg alias El. Malhabur, was charged by Jacob Rappaport with stealing the 
set of dissolving views which his (Rappaport's) wife purchased of Uncle 
Freddy and paid for in part by having this venerable patriot arrested on the 
charge of ])etty (grand) larceny. The defence showed partially, at least, 
that there had been a conditioral bill of sale of the property made by Rap- 
paport and wife to defendant, and that the name of Rappaport had been 
cut off the document which was produced in court in order to enable the 
Rappaports to bring the charge of petty larceny. The case was finally con- 
tinued for twenty-four hours in order to enable defendant to introduce wit- 
nesses to disprove the testimony of the complaining witnesses. 

Having been subpcened, I testified to the fact that when making out the 
bill of sale and receipt at the time of purchase, I asked in whose name the 
bill of sale, etc., should be made, because the woman had stated she wanted 
to help these men, but had the bill of sale made in her own name, which 
with other facts induced the jury to discharge the defendant Malhabur, who 
took off the show to China or Japan, leaving Madam minus everything, and 
caught in her own trap ; pretending to help others more effectually to ap- 
peal to my sympathies. The fact of having been in jail in Chicago, 
by a similar perjury, may possibly be found on the Jail Records ot Chicago 
soon after July 4th, 1849. F. C. 

Taking a retrospective glance back forty-five years ago, the following al- 
most proves the fact. Our author was first incarcerated on that rock-bound 
Island prison, St. Helena, by the old tory government of Great Britain, who 
not only made him the sharer of N^apoleon's fate, but also put patriotic 
women in jail in Canada, and an infant also in this other part of her Ma- 
jesty's dominions for a merely supposed sympathy for deceased Napoleon, 
before the author had attained his majority, and English law declares such 
to be infants, and often such minors plead the Baby Act exonerating those 
under twenty-one from legal debts, etc. 

The following from Coombs' Popular Phrenology, page 97 & 8, exhibits 
the fact of his visiting the East Indies in 1823. " When a youth, the author 
visited Calcutta, whea the Burmese had obtained some advantage over the 
British, and it was thought necessary by the British East India government 
to obtain an additional volunteer marine corps from the British ships then 
in port at Calcutta, the Sir Thomas Grenville's crew and officers, about one 
hundred volunteered, and on his return to England the same year," stopping 
at the Island of St. Helena (nearer to Africa than any other continent,) ami 
on visiting the then celebrated Tomb of Napoleon at Longwood, " on the 
summit of that most picturesque and apparently extinct mountainous oil 
volcano thrown up out of the sea with its perpendicular walls of roek 
thousands of feet in height, with only one narrow landing place called 
James Town," and remembering a beloved Aunt had expressed a great ad- 
miration for Napoleon, the author was therefore extremely anxious to obtain 
a sprig of the willow tree overhanging the Tomb, which was situated in a 
most beautiful little ravine with a most charming mountain spring gushing 
out of the rock; the most deliciously cool water it was ever his fortune to 



tadtc, and where Napoleon usually took his tiffin or lunch, and choso it AA 
hifl resting place in death. 

Owing to the stringent orders given to the sentinels on duty, to guard the 
Tomb, occasioned considerable delay in procuring the sprig, and his loiter- 
ing on the way to admire the wild scenery, made liis return to the landing 
rather after dark ; when he was perfectly astonished at being placed under 
a military guard and safely locked up in their beautiful (outside view) — first 
British jail he became incarcerated in but fortunately, released the following 
morning by the gallant Scotch captain, W. ^Manning, who made his shij) a 
pleasant home for all on board — a model sea captain. 

That sprig formed into a wreath, may yet ornament the parlor of his late 
kind aunt, as indeed all his aunts were, models of kindness and motherly 
care to their orphan nephew. In fullilling this little filial debt of grati- 
tude, and love of the 3ul)limc scenery, he certainly got into jail, and he is 
ready to go in again, if necessary, for such causes as those. 

The wild and su'olime grandeur of the scenery of this volcanic pile of 
rocks beautifully portrayed in the very beautiful mezzotint engraving by 
the self-taught artist J. E. Coombs, alluded to in Charles Chinnock's letter. 



(No. 76.) NAPOLEON MUSING AT ST. HELENA. 

A beautiful photograph, by Gumey, 
of this picturesque scene, for sale by F. C. Poor fellow, he had an immense 
fortune at the ends of his lady-like finorers in executing such pictures ; but 
to verify the saying that ''great genius is to madness near allied," for he was 
80 mercurial he could not apply steadily to any one thing long together. 

The following letter received in California by the lady subscriber, exhibits 
a proof of the extraordinary and versatility of genius, he possessed as the 
mezzotint and line engraving are entirely dissimilar processes, and the foV- 
lowing specimen exhibits the labor of months crowded into less than half 
an inch in diameter. 



(No. 77.) 

To Professor Coombs : 

Dear Sir : When you lectured on Phrenology and examined heads in 
Kentucky in 1837, benefiting myself and others ; I well remember the very 
extraordinary specimen of tine arts you had with you containing, I believe, 
the Episcopal Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, the 117th 
Psalm, Gloria Patria, forty vei-ses of Scripture and forty-one parts of verses 
with name, date, etc., the whole comprised within a space less than half 
an inch in diameter, being the exact size of an ancient Peter's penny of sil- 
ver. The whole comprised over seven thousand eight hundi'ed letters — 
flourished, and punctuated, etc. 

323 Bush St., near Montgv., June 11th, 1861. Lucy Hoppe. 



The above was lost by leaving it as security with a firm on Park Row in 
1849, who had " dissolved like the baseless fabric of a vision, leaving not a 
wreck behind," to find them by on his return from California in 1852. 

Facts showing how our author only got into Jail the half time at Mon- 
treal, Canada, 184 '3, for helping patriots. See Dr. Duncomb's letter. 

It is hoped we shall not be favored with another visit from the old 
British Lion with his long tale we had here lately, who can write as follows. 

From Amedcan Notes. Page 86. 

There is an admirable jail here, well and wisely governed and excel- 
lently regulated in every respect. The men were employed as shoemakers, 
ropemakers, &c. The female prisoners were occupied in needlework. 
Among them was a beautiful girl of twenty, who had been there nearly 
three years. She acted as bearer of secret dispatches for the self-styled 
Patriots on Navy Island during the Canadian Insurrection, sometimes dres- 
sing as a girl, and carrying them in her stays. Sometimes attiring herself 
fL9 a boy, and secreting them in her hat. In the latter character she alwaj-* 



rode as a boy would, which was nothing to her, for she could govern any 
horse that any man could ride, and could drive four in hand with the best 
whip in those parts. Setting forth on one of her patriotic missions, she 
appropriated to herself the first horse she could lay her hands on, and this 
offence had brought her where I saw her. She had quite a lovely face, 
though, as the reader may suppose from the sketch of her history, there was 
a lurking devil in her bright eye, which looked out pretty sharply from 
between her prison bars. 

The following from Martin Chuzzlewit displays the same antipathy to 
our glorious American Banner. 

Page 145. 

As Martin ascended to his bedroom, his eye was attracted by the repub- 
lican banner, which had been hoisted from the house top in honor of the 
occasion, and was fluttering before a window as he passed. 

" Tut ! " said Martin, " You're a gay flag in the distance. But let a man 
be near enough to get the light upon the other side and see through you, 
and you are but sorry fustian." 

By a most singular coincidence about the same time the beautiful patri- 
otic Canadian Joan of Arc was suffering in the jail in Kingston, (Chas. 
Dicken's small Town with a big jail,) our author was supposed, also, to 
have been suffering for the same love of liberty, a like imprisonment in the 
neighboring City of Montreal in another big jail, but which he certainly 
never saw to his knowledge, but the Tory papers, can lie as well as do 
worse, if that be possible. 

The proof of this, the author has been trying to procure from Montreal 
for years past, but without success ; they feel so ashamed of it ; but an 
article certainly did appear, which he called the half time in jail^ as proba- 
bly more than half the people thought he was in jail as described in the 
columns of the Tory paper at Montreal about the 1st. Sept. 1843, nearly as 
follows : 

" Captain Commeou arrested Frederick Coombs, whose scientific lectures 
are a mere cloak for uttering dangerous and seditious doctrines, dangerous 
to the peace of her majesty's subjects. He was accordingly an-ested last 
night and safely locked up in jail, where he ought to have been before.'* 

This was news to him, and the opposition paper warmly resented the 
fabrication, but as it caused the roughs from the Government employees to 
arm themselves with clubs, pistols, &c., and driving away the ladies and 
respectable portion of the audience. He adjourned the lectures, and soon 
after left for Niagara, near where McLeod, the tool of the tories lived, and 
he there met with great success, whilst those believing in the Tory organs 
thought he was still in jail. Hence, he calls this being one-half time in jail 
in 1842, for sympathizing with Joan of Arc and her noble compatriots. 

See the beautiful engraving of the Equestrian statue (Ill'n No. 13.) to be 
erected to the beautiful Canadian, Joan of Arc, when Canada becomes a 
sister republic. 

*The above lawless proceedings are so perfectly in keeping with the auto- 
cratic bearing of the late Emperor of Russia, who deemed his sovereign will 
above all law, gospel, or precedent, and his course towards unhappy Poland 
has been even more oppressive, if possible, than the British Government 
towards unhappy Ireland, and, if as Napoleon predicted Europe was to be 
either Cossack or Republican. The author has done his best to make it 
republican all around the world, for one proof of which, see his affidavit 
of refusing Russian offers of gold and honor, and his invasion of Canada. 
He could not hire himself to tyrants. 



♦See the Eclectic Magazine, May, 1864, Page 98. 

Alexander demanded at the celebrated treaty of Vienna, &c 



109 



AN URGENT APPEAL 

To THE ASSEMBLED WISDOM OF THE NATION— OUR PRESI- 

DENT AND CONGRESS— FOR HOMESTEADS AND 

WIVES FOR HOMELESS AMERICANS, 

INCLUDING HIMSELF. 



It is confidently believed of all the schemes brought forward by patriotic 
and benevolent individuals for ameliorating the condition of suffering human- 
ity, the land question underlies every other question of reform, and many of 
the crimes and vices becoming now so alarmingly prevalent, may, it is be- 
lieved, be traced to the wretched state of pauperism and destitution, as wit- 
nessed in the overcrowded and wretched habitations everywhere to be seen 
in large cities, and increasing to an alarming degree ; and if you expect to 
find in man a reasoning, moral creature, the surest thing to make him so will 
be to treat him as such, and not scourge the very life and soul out of the hap- 
less creatures who are treated worse than brutes by some grasping, avaricious, 
and cruel landlords, willing to consign their wretched tenants to present and 
a future state of indescribable misery. This unfortunate state of things is 
largely influenced by the demoralizing effects resulting too often from over- 
crowded and impure associations in overcrowded communities, where vice 
become 5 contagious, and these tortures inflicted on poor unfortunates merely 
to enable the dear feminine aristocrats to shine with a Grecian bend^ and the 
heir-at-law to shine at a gaming table or a still more dangerous place, if that 
can be. (See Illustration 111.) 

These would-be kings and queens are all anti- American and anti-republican, 
a mushroom growth, an unhealthy growth of imported monarchical and anti- 
republican institutions. 

The spirit of 1776 calls aloud for a reform and a nearer approach to the 
republican simplicity and self-denying virtues of the revolutionary times of 
1776, particularly in the more equal distribution of God's great gifts to man — 
earth, air, and water. The remedy lies with the people and the Congress, 
who, it is hoped, will pass a land-limitation law, and devise a more liberal 
free homestead and a free railroad law, assisting all to cultivate the soil who 
wish to do so. 

The author, having visited many lands, has arrived at the conviction after 
extended observation, those peoples enjoy the greatest degree of liberty, hap- 
piness, and prosperity almost in exact proportion to the freedom of the lauds 
to actual cultivators thereof, possessing moderate quantities; and as a proof of 
this the writer never has bought a foot of land yet, fearing he might be 
injuring some homeless ones, and as additional proof read the letters of Mr. 
Browere (No. 80), and Wm. Marsh (No. 71). Where such small amounts have 
accomplished such great good, it therefore must be conceded as an established 
fact, that public policy and the public good point to the entire freedom of the 
public railroad lands in limited quantities as the great remedy for the greatest 
of social evils now existing, and accumulating at a rate demanding the earliest 
attention of the patriot, the philanthropist, and the politician. 



116 

HOW OUR AUTHOR CAME TO BE AWARDED THE TITLE 

OF THE 

UNION CHAMPION OF CALIFOENIA, 

Bl ONE OF HER FIRST MERCHANTS. 



The following letters afford a striking verification of the declaration on 
page 36, of willingness to sacrifice himself for our glorious Union, how nearly 
resembling good A, Lincoln's fate in another theatre, soon after. 

Corner Sansome and California streets, S. F. ) 
[No. 78 — -Copy.] Carpet Store, November 29, 1864. j 

To Mr. F. Coo.MBS and others : Just before the late Presidential election^ 
having been accidentally present in front of the American Theatre, I was 
called as a witness when the then lessees and managers proposed to give Mr. 
Coombs a benefit at their theatre, providing F. Coombs would appear in his 
patriotic suit of 1776, and carry his Washington banner in their Broom Rangers 
procession, to which he promptly objected unless he could carry a banner of 
his own painting (which was the Union or Lincoln and Johnson banner), to 
which they finally agreed ; and as I have been informed by many and seen the 
written testimony of others, that F. Coombs did so appear in said procession, 
and remained on the stage until the play was stopped and he was driven off 
by a fire from front and rear, in consequence of which he lost his promised 
benefit and might have lost his life. This self-denying act having been per- 
formed in perfect accordance with his Union sentiments, published in his peti- 
tion to the Legislature of California, dated February 10, 1860, and now lying 
before me, exhibiting, as he therein says, " His ardent love for our glorious 
Union." He having thus carried the war into the enemy's ranks at the most 
important moment, fairly entitles him to the title of the " Union Champion of 
California." As such I most cheerfully tender five dollars to get him up a ben- 
efit, providing other Union gentlemen will join in said benefit, to which your 
approbation is most respectfully solicited. 

John C. Bell, 



No 79. 

Having seen Mr. Frederick Coombs at the American Theatre, carrying the 
Lincoln and Johnson banner in a Broom Rangers procession until he was pelted 
off the stage, I think he may claim to have done for the Union cause what no 
other man in San Francisco has done. • 

Wm. Shattuck, 

650 Market street, 
March 25, 1865. San Francisco. 

Additional proofs by Letter No 2. 



Ill 



TERRIFIC BATTLES WITH OTHER FIENDS! 



Yes, gentle reader, a conqueror in terrific battles where none could get hurt 
but the conqueror himself or the fiends of hell (see Illustration 111) ; for as the 
great epic poet truly says : " Peace has her victories no less than that of war ;" 
a bloodless victory, where he who rushes in has not the luxury of retaliation 
and revenge to spur him on for real or imaginary wrongs. A victory perhaps 
gained over thou ever haunting, ever dreaded, cruel fiend, Poverty, more 
dreaded than even the secesh, to avoid whose hated presence, the proud 
man's contumely and thousand inevitable ills following in his hideous train, 
millions of unfortunates rush to suicide as the lesser horror of the two. 

Poverty avaunt ! twin-brother unto death, disease, and misery. Surely the 
author may claim to have gained a bloodless victory over this hidrous appari- 
tion and dread foe to human happiness, he having lived like a beggar when a 
rich pioneer of California, helping everybody to everything they asked for, and 
many helped without even asking (Letters No. 21, 55, etc.); yet for himself 
content to eat, drink, sleep, and even marry with the poor ones, even taking 
this hideous apparition into bed with him to enable him to help others by 
the hundred and thousand dollars in gold, without interest, without the 
slightest proof or allusion to it until many years had passed and he had been 
a missionary of science and beneficence to the antipodes, the extremest por- 
tion of this wicked world. (See page 32, line 1.) 

Dread Poverty, thou wert perhaps again conquered by him in 1864 when 
Washington the Second lived and slept in a deep, dark, and damp cellar 
swarming with living and deceased rats, enduring these life-destroying mias- 
mas rather than hurt the feelings of a greenback lady (?) by selling her dia- 
monds, etc., which he had an undoubted right, a legal right to do. But no j 
he would prefer to endure these life-destroying miasmas for another month in 
order to give her everything she asked for, both in time and money ; and when 
she afterwards declared she did not intend to have sworn him into jail, instead 
of taking her life (as one said he ought to have done), he painted a banner and 
had it and his portrait photographed with the jail scene, headed — " Ladies' 
Eyes or Love from Heaven," etc. (see Illustration 85), remembering,the snag 
he was once wrecked on the Mississippi with, and considering her just .such 
another snag, to be ever avoided. 

" Ingratitude ! thou marble-hearted fiend !" thou wert conquered when he 
reciprocated a thirty dollar kindness from one Virginian, with one thousand 
dollar kindness to another Virginian 1852. (See Letter IG.) 

Al;o the letter of Franlc Turk. Esq . first American alcalde (No. 28), refus- 
ing gold out of gratitude to T II. Green, declining invitations from the British 
aristocracy (his own relations), because they uphold the British Govern- 
ment, and join in plundering the poor English widows, orphans, etc. (No. 61.) 

Luxury ! thou soft, seductive fiend, wooing men to their destruction, surely 
thou wert conquered when our author livod in a deep, dark, and damp cellar 



112 

for economy, and same time forgave a horribly ungrateful woman about three 
hundred dollars rather than sell her diamonds. (See Letter 75.) 

" Spirit of wine, if thou hast no other name to be known by, let us call thee 
Devil!" 

Intemperance ! the foulest fiend of all, surely though wert conquered when 
our author was chased around with champagne by his richest patrons, but 
none could make him drink it, his great stereoscopes of Niagara Falls taken 
round the world, and other expenditures. (See Pictorial Illustration 20.) 

As to how temperate he was, see the additional proofs by H. Hasseltine, 
Esq., the Rev. Thomas Starr King, Dr. Scott, and other clergy of San Fran- 
cisco, Rev. Mr. Blain, and J, B. Mayo, Esq., 303 Broadway New York, by 
abbreviated letters to be seen on pictorial illustration No. 20 ; also letters 
of W. S. Baker, Esq., Boston (No. 20), and letters of Mr. and Mrs. Nuthau- 
sen (No. 55-|), besides a great number of similar unpublished letters in his 
possession, living thus meanly in order to help poor Americans on both sides 
of this Continent with the greatest joys of life, which is a nice house and 
lot, or a ver}'- good wife : 

' For what man is there with soul so daad 
Who nover to himself hath said, 
This is my home, my native land?" 

F. C. 

Pride ! thou self-conceited imp, by which Satan lost heaven, surely thou 
wert kilt dead when the conqueror did the ditching free, and came on East 
in the cheap steerage when richer than ever before or since, doing this cruelty 
to himself in order to be kind to Chicagoians, one of whom had most foully 
sworn him into jail less than three short years before, for which he was told 
he ought to have knocked Dinets on the head for thus most falsely swearing. 

"Man dressed in a little brief authority doth play such fantastic tricks 
before high heaven as make even angels weep." 

Usury ! thou hell-bloated monster, received a death blow when our author 
voluntarily loaned gold to poor Califomians in 1850, '51 and '52, when thia 
yellow devil gold commanded 15 per cent, per month interest. (See Letters 
12, 13 and 21.) 

" Saint-seducing gold ! There is thy gold : worse poison to men's souls, 
doing more murders, in this loathsome world, than these poor compounds 
thou mayest not sell." 

Ignorance — deformed, brutal Ignorance ! monster of crime and every ill, which 
Shakespeare defines as " the curse of God ;" and H. W. Beecher, in report of 
sermon, " Herald," December 23, 1867, says, " Christianity would have to ally 
itself with science. He dwelt on the sin of ill health, adding, that politicians 
would yet serve the Lord." 

In furtherance of all which most desirable consummations the author has 
the most gratifying evidences that he has ofttimes risked his life and lost all 
his property in combatting this horrid monster, Ignorance ; and that he was 
hailed as " the Missionary of Science and teacher of the beautiful," even to the 
Antipodes, the remotest parts of the earth. And from 1832 to 1865 traversing 
three times the length and breadth of the United States (as then known), lift- 
ing up mesmerism, phrenology, the daguerreotype, and electrical sciences, out 



113 

of the mire of ridicule and contempt," to be a thing of beauty and a joy for 
ever ;" earning and winning the most honored titles in the United States, 
where best known as the Pioneer Artist of California. A three-fold benefactor : 
Ist. Promulgating arta and sciences ; 2d. Denying himself every recreation or 
expenditure of a dollar on himself ; 3d. Helping unfortunate Americans with 
fabulous sums in gold, without interest, security, or scarcely memoranda, nor 
alluding to it until he had passed around this world on a mission of love and 
beneficence. Match him if you can, and pay him, if you please, for a life ex- 
pended to benefit others. 



WASHINGTON THE SECOND CONQUEROR. 

Yes, gentle reader, a conqueror ! not of his fellow men, but of man's dead- 
liest foes, the wicked fiends, man's deadliest foes. 

Having been sworn into jail on a charge of grand larceny, and came out 
triumphantly with the splendid title of " Washington the Second Conqueror," 
and others also. (See page 104.) 

Old Fuller, in the "N. Y. Tribune," Nov. 21, 1868, truly remarks: "Man 
is not what he sai/elh but what he doetlu' Therefore nothing so forcibly 
exhibits the author's greatest delight and happiness was to make others happy 
and rich before himself, by the golden investments and remittances he made to 
others unsolicited in Pioneer times before and afterwards. 

Extract from F. Coombs appeal for justice to R. U. N. k, Sons, architects, 
preachers, etc. : 

New York, NuvenLh&r 2, 1863. 

F. Coombs voluntarily remitted or gave the mean? to the poorest of the 
poor to procure for themselves homsteads or wives in 1827 or '28, 1850, 1851, 
and 1857, before providing himself with either of these the most coveted joys 
of earth. Mrs. Susan B. Carletox. Mrs. Low, Mrs. Elizabeth Gracey, 530 
Pearl St., and Washingtox Hadley, 6 and 12, 7 and 11, Cooper Union, and fifteen 
hundred other autograph recommendations. 

This strongly reminds him of Dr. Johnson, who on popping tlie question 
to a beautiful lady, who, desirous of acting conscientiously in the delicate 
matter, informed him she foared he would back down when informed she 
had a near relative once lianged, to which he replied with the utmost polite- 
ness : " Madam, on that ground we are perfectly balanced, for I have forty 
relations who deserve hanging."' The author is in the same category as to 
the majority of the male bipeds he is related to. (See Illustration, No. 91.) 

Land grabbing thieves received a severe rebuke when our author, on three 
diff'erent occasions, volunteered means to get homes for the poor of both 
hemispheres, but never yet a foot of land for himself; thus making assurances 
trebly sure, so far at least as the author is concerned, by bis example ; he has 
thus a far greater honor than to have been pioneer inventor and giver of the 
public Electric Telegraph to the sovereign American people. 

Forty years ago he thus entirely abrogated and annihilated the odious dis- 
tinctions of landlord and tenant, never having, up to date, bought a foot of 



11^ 

land for Himself, deeming it wicked to buy God's earth for speculative purposes, 
having seen in Europe the frightful effects of 'the old feudal land-grabbing, 
land-monopolizing system of robbery, as taught and practised by every 
monarchical government, reducing the actual cultivators of the soil to the most 
abject condition of servitude, but one slight remove from the barbarism of 
horrid African slavery, now most happily and most fortunately abolished in 
this glorious land of freedom (as we call it). But is there no hope of real free- 
dom for the poor white trash, who groan under the killing burdens of exces- 
sive and exorbitant rents, exacted by merciless landlords and agents, in vile 
imitation of their monarchical accestors in Europe, who are fast reducing this 
once glorious republic to the abject condition of serfdom there, and by the 
very same odious process ? 

Yes, forty years ago our author had the supreme felicity of making a 
family it is believed now increased to nearly forty persons, all their own land- 
lords by supposing each to have a nice little farm of only five acres of land 
each. (How nice it must be for them.) But no doubt they have one hundred 
acres each, as Mr. Marsh writes in 1865 : " One of my children is now settled on 
the two hundred acres obtained for the two guns." Now hear what an Ameri- 
can artist has accomplished with only half an acre of land : 

According to these testimonies, of Letter 71 and of Mr. Browere, our 
author may claim the distinguished honor to have given away pour hundred 
HALF-ACRE HAPPY HOMES ou the Continent of America, four years before seeing 
it himself. A kindness no man can perform for his native land by any process 
he is aware of. 

[No. 80.— Copy.] 

Friend Coombs, — I coincide with you in the belief, that a person with half 
an acre of land can, if he is so inclined, with industry, economy, and sobriety, 
cause it to become a happy home to himself and family, and with a little labor 
and science, he can improve and beautify it, and cause it to yield to him pleasure 
and profit. I have but half an acre of clay ground, and I have a good home 
on it, and raise all we need of vegetables and fruit every year, and have some 
to sell ; but one must be up and doing. I work morning and evening so as not 
to interfere with my daily work, and I have found it a profitable and healthy 
exercise so far, hoping that every one may be contented with a small home. 

Yours truly, 

A. D. 0. Browere 

Cattskill, October 20, 1868. 

Equal, exact, and inexorable justice demands that he should be repaid in the 
same shape he has rewarded those he had never known or seen, or all judicial 
executions become murders. The only salvation of the Republican party de- 
pends on carrying out this beneficent policy he inaugurated forty years ago — 
giving homes to llie homeless — draining the cesspools of the corrupt, wicked, 
and overgrown cities, where the Democrats can alone manufacture spurious 
votes out of green foreigners, all of whom ought to live in the country as 
long as native Americans before voting. 

Mr. Browere is an enthusiastic Republican on his happy half-acre home, and 
we want more just like him, and the country is saved. 



115 



THE PLEASURES OF A COUNTRY LIFE. 




^.^^'^'^' 



No. 109. 



FRESH T.ATT) EGGS FOR BREAKFAST AND CHICKEN PIE FOR DINNER. 

It may thus be seen what untold, what inexhaustible mines of wealth 
there is to be found within a foot of the surface of our beneficent mother 
earth, and which only requires slight exertions to obtain, and by the most 
healthy of all exercises, for what an appetite a Free Ditcher had proofs of 
which are submitted, exhibiting a love of agricultural pursuits under difficul- 
ties as great, probably, as tlie rail-splitting experiences of Uncle Abraham 
Lincoln; it might be added, this free ditching enterprise and labor of love 
having been voluntarily undertaken when our author was richer in gold thcji 
ever before or since, just previous to leaving the State of California as he then 
supposed for ever, nor allusion made to the fact until he had circumnavigated 
the globe, and unexpectedly returned to California in 18 j8, by way of Australia, 
but found little aid or sympathy there. 

The author has ever advocated the equal rights of all to the public domain, 
irrespective of sex, color, or religion. 

Women's votes alone can ever make men temperate, healthy, wealthy, and 
wise. 



r 



Hi 



^^^^iiA^^m, 




The desolate home of a wretched Inebriate in Austrah'a, Engraved and 
presented to the author by his friend E. A. Potter, Esq., for the benefit of the 
glorions Temperance cause. 
No. CI. San Francisco, January 6, 1859. 

Mr. F. Coombs having recently exhibited some of his dissolving views at 
the Folsom st. Methodist Episcopal Church, affording an instructive and agree- 
able entertainment : 

I t^Iic pleasure iu commending his series to public favor amongst the many 
cf vhich, those exhibiting the progress of intemperance will doubtless pro- 
duce a b;ilutary moral impression, particularly upon the minds of youth. 

J. A. Enuj:EPw, Pastor Fclscm ct. ]\Iethodist Episcopal Chrrch, Pre- 
decessor of the Pev. J. D. Plain, 195 Broadway, New York. 

I have cheerfully subscribed for Mr. Coombs' benefit one dollar, 

T. S. King. 

The following are descriptive of three mammoth splendid stereoscopes, 
alluded to by Ih. and Mrs. Jones' letter, 93 : 

" They arc made of the fmeet rosewood, four feet long, twenty inches wide, 
three foot t!:rce inches hijh,wiih twelve pair of views each ; of the magnificent 
lua~ara Fa'.r,, being the greatest dashav.'ay or cold water in the world, with 
the great railway suspension bridge, etc." 

Price, GTC9, ^500, or ^450 each stereoscope, hoping to give the poor ine- 
briates a love for cold water. 



in 

The" following editorial from a portion of the press not much in the habit of 
eulogizing, perhap? carries the greater weight with it. The author would beg 
to add, that in explanation of his reticence as to where he was born, etc., he 
was never in the habit of boasting of it in California, where it somehow hap- 
pened most of the early victims of the vigilant executions happened to be Eng- 
lish, and as he happened to get into jail there by mistake (as he was told by the 
feminine next day after he was triumphantly discharged), he was afraid he 
might have also got hung by mistake, had he been too loud boasting of his 
ancestral lineage. Should the present compilation of facts succeed pecuni- 
aril}'-, he will be tempted to inflict on the generous public some samples of his 
earlier life, roaming adventures, etc., around the world, hair-breadth escapes, 
love adventures, melancholy mishaps, etc. 

{From the Sfin Francisco Police Gazette^ March 8, 1862.) 
PROFESSOR COOMBS. 

" The early life of Frederick Coombs, the ' pioneer artist' of the State, is 
somewhat shrouded in mystery. He does not care to speak about it, and only 
desires to be known as ' the Professor. As Frederick Coombs announces 
himself as a candidate to represent California at the TVorld's Fair in London 
this year, we shall give him the benefit of our recommendation. According i6 
his statement, which we believe strictly reliable, he has recommendations 
from a number of the best men in our nation, and we have seen the autograph 
signatures of two or three Governors, a dozen Judges, fifteen reverends, and 
twenty editors, besides a long list of ' merchants and mechanics in good stand- 
ing,' all residents of California. The Professor professes to be a philanthropist 
of no common order, and if his assertions be true, he has, by his extraordinary 
benevolence, made himself a poor man by assisting ' sick and distressed Ameri- 
cans' to hundreds and even thousands of dollars — • and all for love.' lie 
claims that the British Home and Colonial aristocracy invite him to ' come 
and join the society of the highest people in the land, and be treated like the 
son of a prince, in remembrance of his youthful generosity.' The Russian 
powers extend to him the same well-merited courtesy. 

"It is not generally known, yet such is the fact, that in 1852 the Pro- 
fessor represented California at Chicago, and at a vast expense to himself, 
' opened a museum and panorama, free, hoping to 'bring ladies to California.'* 
The Professor very properly asks, after making this fact known : ' Ought I 
not to represent California again V 

""We think the Professor is somewhat eccentric, but he is not of that opinion. 
On every gala day he can be seen on Montgomery street, dressed in continen- 
tal costume, with his long white hair under his three-cocked hat flowing 
gracefully to the wind, a perfect resemblance to Washington — (all but the 
hair). (See Letter 82.) 

" The Professor has recently published a circular directed to the members 
of the Legislature, soliciting the appointment as representative to the World's 
Fair ; and as we really wish to give him the advantage of our great personal 
and political influence with the members of that most intelligent body, we 
copy his sixth paragraph, and after reading that, if the members fail to select 



118 

liim by an unanimous vote, we shall exclaim in the language of the immortal 
somebody . ' Republics is ungrateful.' 

" ' Divine Providence has discovered to him hundreds of extraordinary re- 
semblances to the illustrious General Washington on self-denial and generosity, 
which gives him highest hopes for the future. Believing the great American 
people and their representatives will by actions prove that republics are not al- 
ways ungrateful, as some monarchists assert, never forgetting his last act of 
self-denying love as a pioneer in 1852, when richest, was to volunteer to ditch 
in a swamp for poor strangers because they could not repay him money ad- 
vanced them without interest, whisper low !' (This occurred on the blood- 
stained ranch of 1,000 acres in 1862 — the owner murdered by one of his men 
he did not pay F. C.) 

" There, who could withstand such an appeal ? The man who says ' no,' 
when the question is put on the appointment of Professor Frederick Coombs 
as representative to the World's Fair, must have a heart of stone — in fact, 
he must be a 'secesh.' 

" The Professor is not only profound as a philosopher and phrenologist, for the 
works in his stiidio show that he is an artist of no common order — ^in fact, he 
embraces uncommon tact and talent concerning all the sciences known at the 
present day. We should be pleased to have room for a notice more worthy of 
thfe man, but must for the present conclude, but not before observing that the 
Professor sometimes indulges in a bit of pleasantry as witness the following 
poetic effusion, which appears at the close of his address to the Legislature : 

' Uncle Freddy's come to town ; 
Yankee Doodle dandy ! 
He'll jump upon his ditching plow, 
And try the race so handy V " 

The following resemblance to General Washington was discovered accident- 
ally by Mr. Greenlaw, and is in singular contrast to the editorial of Police 
Gazette, on the hair : 

(Copy.— No. 82.) 
To Mr. F. Coombs, Sacramento City : 

My Dear Sir, — ^In answer to your enquiries respecting the lock of Washing- 
ton's hair in possession of Dr. B. B. Brown of this city for above twenty-seven 
years, and received from his father, late of Philadelphia, and genuine beyond 
all question, on carefully comparing his hair with two locks of your own se- 
lected from the lighest and darkest portions, it, in texture, appearance, 
color, and touch, presented a most remarkable similarity in every particular 

to your own. 

Yours, etc., John W. Greenlaw. 

Witness : 

L. R. Whitney, Prest. Dashaway Association. 

San Francisco, March 20, 1861. 

The author has since discovered about one hundred similar resemblances to 
General Washington, which he hopes to give to the world in a futiure edition. 

In explanation of the above kind, but facetious editorial, it may be stated 
the intention of sending any representative to London at the charge of the 
State was abandoned, certainly a very short-sighted and suicidal policy, worthy 



119 



of a secesh Legislature, capable of the following outrageous lawlessness by 
some of its members : 

{From San Francisco Daily Eoening Journal^ May 24, 1861.) 
A Duel. — Showalter, late member of the assembly, and Pierce of Los Ange- 
les, will go out from this city to-morrow morning to San Mateo county, to fight 
a duel. A personal difficulty occurred between them recently. 



From the Daily Times, San Francisco, January 17, 1861. 
The Legislature to-day — the twelfth Legislature of California — will assemble. 
Unless they arc at least five hundred per cent, more honest, honorable, and 
intelligent than some of the hordes of wretches who have preceded them, it 
would be a happy thing for the State if fate, like a huge gopher, would under- 
mine the Capitol building and sink them all to 

"THE DEVIL'S DOMINIONS." 

But there is no reason for hoping 
for such a consummation, nor even 
for a short session. There will be 
at least two hundred thieving bills 
concocted. There will be a thous- 
and plots and counterplots for the 
United States Senatorship. 

From (lie Daily Evening Builelin, 
San Francisco, about same date. 

" We must send men to the Legis- 
ature from San Francisco who do 
not form a portion of the combina- 
tion that are striving to enrich them- 
selves by the most unheard-of vil- 
lainies." 

From the San Francisco Call, Janu- 
ary 6, 1861. 

ON LOBBYISTS. 
"They are the channel of every 
unholy and plundering scheme, 
gathering tribute from every one 
having claims. They wield an in- 
fluence alike disgraceful and disgusting." 

After perusing the preceding it will be eviden. no righteous claim could 
have any chance with such a thoroughly corrupt body of men as the Legisla- 
ture of California was composed of, and as portrayed by the united press of 
San Francisco. The author confidently appeals to the highest tribunal, the 
Congress of the United States from these the lowest JTiis-representatives of the 
people of California and the United States. 

P. S.— The feminine carried off is supposed to be the California Beauty, who 
Bwore him into jail after forgiving and also giving her above three hundred 
dollars (greenbacks.) See page 104. 




No.lll. A CAL. EX-MEMBER, AND MURDERER 
OF MR. BELL. (ScC p. 129.) 



120 

The subscribers having examined tiie original editorials alluded to from 
Cahfomia, have to infer while the press of California have awarded F. Coombs, 
Esq., the highest titles on earth, they seem as unanimously to have consigned 
the Legislatures of California about 1860, to the lowest depths of infamy and 
disgrace ; ' to the devil's dominions.' * 

George Petrie, 
Edwin A. Potter, 
7 Beekman street, January 5, 1869. 

* Correct quotation. Henry W. Forde, 

15 Oliver Street, New York. 

The following exhibits the same state of criminal injustice still prevailing 
in 1866. The press, the noble palladium of liberty, thus denounces judipial 

criminality: 

/ 

From the Alia California, Friday, November 1, 1866. 
The Acquittal of Duane. — The acquittal of Duane will take the good people 
of San Francisco by surprise. They confidently expected and they believed 
that justice demanded a different result. 

From the Yreka Journal. 
MOST UNWARRANTABLE ASSUMPTION OF POWER. 
The trial of Terry for the murder of Broderick amounted to nothing but a 
ridiculous farce, the Legislature having most unwarrantably changed the 
venue for the trial. 



In order to inspire confidence, and to satisfy all of the author's good inten- 
tions, he most respectfully begs to take a retrospective glance of his antece- 
dents, as exhibited in a letter (No. 11) written him by L. Skinner, the first 
pioneer and most eminent banker of San Francisco, under the firm of Wells 
& Co., now of 5 Burroughs Place, Boston, Mass., fellow-passenger of F. Coombs 
to California in 1849, and subsequently landlord of the first brick building 
(miscalled fire-proof) erected in San Francisco ; consequently no person could 
have a better chance of knowing most intimately every trait of character de- 
scribed in his letter, whilst as to lioio industrious he was receives additional 
confirmation from his first landlord, F. Marriott (No. 5). His volunteer free 
ditching enterprise at Napa, see page 82 j whilst his exploits in Contra Costa 
and on the Isthmus, proven by letters from J. M. Ward, Esq., and J. Ward 
Eaton, Esq. (Nos. 38 & 39), whilst his visits to Chicago and Buffalo are certified 
by letters from A. S. Evans, Esq. (No. 34), and J. J. Wiggins, Esq. (No. 41), 
besides visiting all the great fairs, thus incurring immense labor and expendi- 
ture to benefit California, in return for the base ingratitude shown him both 
in 1849 to 1852, and from 1858 to 1865 subsequently. 

As to how honest he was, the letter of H. C. Clarkson (No. 15) strikingly 
exhibits and confirms, costing him ^1,000 gratitude. But especially re- 
pudiating and denouncing the vile robbery of the British Government and 
aristocracy in shamelessly robbing the poor English of their common lando 
above fifty years ago to give them to him, because he bappeDed to be bom 



121 

to houses and lands in Kilmington, Somer.-et (No. 57 and 70), see certified 
letter (So. 58) bj George Edwards, cor. Morris street and Broadway, New 
York. His declining Russian gold and Lonors in 1838, shows he will form 
no alliance nor serve the cruel and despotic tyrants who rob and torture 
their weaker neighbors, the Poles and Circassians (see page 59, see pictorial 
illustration IG, and late horrid outrages at Wilna, 15.) 

A wit's a feather, aud a chiefs a rod ; 

But an honest man 's the noblest work of God. 

As to how faitJi/ul in the hour of danger, the letter of II. W. Bradley (No. 
8) is most conclusive, proving our author was the last to leave the burning 
building of Wells & Co., barely escaping with life, preserved almost by a 
miracle. 

A Pioneer of the truthful sciences, ho seems to go forth with his life in his 
hand, and the author well remembers, when lecturing on phrenology at 
Natchez, in 1837, some wicked wights caricatured him with a donkey's head, 
and a stronger proof of their belief in the science they could scarcely have 
given, but which they thought thus to demolish. 

The wild secesh always had a great antipathy to the truths of science. In 
California they were just the same suicidal mad creatures. (See Illustration 
No. 14.) 

(From the New York Tribune, November U, 1868.) 

" Victoria. — £5,000 to be awarded to the first person or company who shall 
obtain one ton of silver from any argentiferous lode within the Colony of 
Victoria." 

What reward, then, does not that man deserve, who unfurls the Banner of 
Truth at the risk of his life from Elaine to Louisiana ? " Who bringeth healing 
on his wings " by the exploded, derided science of Mesmerism in 1842, by 
Galvanism from 1842 to 1849, saving his own and others' lives from cholera, 
and saving Americans from sickness, ruin, and starvation with idolized gold. 
(See letter 88 ; see pp. 122, 123.) Who thus surpasses B. Franklin in applying 
the beneficent sciences to alleviate human sufi'ering, aud demonstrates the 
perfect practicability of the Electric Telegraph entirely from his own re- 
sources, years before Congress expended a dollar on this greatest of modern 
discoveries, revolutionizing the world of thought and intellect, and bringing 
the Old and New Worlds into an instantaneous communication. America is 
not to be beaten by Australia, it is hoped, in rewarding priority of discovery. 

A man who has proven himself doubly a benefactor, not only as a pioneer 
of the most beneficent sciences of modern times, but also helping poor and 
needy Americans by the proceeds of his labors in those elevating, ennobling 
pursuits approved by all good men. 

Equal, exact, and inexorable justice imperatively demands that every one 
should be treated just as he has treated others, otherwise every execution be- 
comes a legalized murder. (See illustration No. 42, where forty Californians 
rushed forth to strangle to death a fellow creature who probably had never 
injured them, for only stealing a safe, and when our author asked for recipro- 
city for his generosities of that and earlier periods, he was assaulted, robbe(i 
at a benefit, and most falsely sworn into jail in 1864.) 

Read H. W. Beecher's sermon on " the Rings." (See page 130.) 



122 



A PIONEER OF THE SCIENCE OF PHRENOLOGY IN THE CAPITAL 
OF THE EMPIRE STATE. 

From the Albany Evening Journal, October 2, 1837, and from the Buffalo 
Journal, September 11, 1837. 

Your delineations of widely different characters were detailed and eluci- 
dated with a precision and minuteness which has convinced the most incredu- 
lous opponents of the science of its truth and claims to public support. 

George Wilkinson, 
Theodore Stebbins, 
A. C. Stevens, 
And an eminent physician certifies F. C. was twenty-seven years ago a pioneer 
of mesmerism. 



ANIMAL MAGNETISM ANNI- 
HILATED. 

Proof from American Cyclopedia, Ap- 
pleton & Co., New York, 1869, 
page 593 (abbreviated extract). 

ANIMAL magnetism. 

"In 1784 the French government 
ordered the medical faculty of Paris 
to investigate Mesmer's theory and 
make a report upon it. Under this 
order a commission was appointed of 
a dozen persons, amongst whom were 
B. Franklin, D. Bailley and others ; they 
investigated the whole subject care- 
fully and published an able report, 
drawn up by Bailley, and signed by 
all the members of the commission 
save Jussein. The impression left on 
the public mind was that Mesmer was 
a charlatan; the general voice de- 
clared him to be a quack ; the report 
fixed public opinion and extinguished 
Mesmer." 

It adds, "Soon after this, Mesmer 
left Paris very suddenly," just like the 
author at Woodville, Miss., 1843. 

Poor Mesmer I This incident 
strongly reminds the author of the 
fierce battles he was engaged in with 
skeptics, who often quoted the above 
erroneous and unjust report as high 
authority, trying to extinguish him 
also. 



TRIUMPH OF ANIMAL MAGNET- 
ISM IN THE CAPITAL OF THE 
ExMPIRE STATE (ABBREVIATED 
FROM THE " DAILY ARGUS.") 

October 10, 1842. 
Highly important testimony in favor 
of animal magnetism and phreno- 
magnetism. Two young Albanians 
put to sleep at once. 

" We, the undersigned, ^aving at- 
tended the illustrations of Mr. Coombs 
and his talented pupil, have no hesi- 
tation in asserting that the experi- 
ments performed on Wednesday eve- 
ning, October 8, on two young per- 
sons, residents of Albany, selected 
from a crowded audience, were entire- 
ly conclusive and satisfactory, proving 
beyond the possibility of a doubt the 
reality of the magnetic sleep. 

" The severe and even cruel exper- 
iments resorted to by the committee, 
etc., etc. 

" Stephen Yan Renssalaer, Jr. 
" William Tillinghast, 
" A. F. Lansing, and 
Many other distinguished Albanians." 
" I certify that the above jis a true 
and correct copy taken from the file 
of the 'Albany Argus' of 1842, kept 
in the New York State Library. 
" Norman S. Curtis, 
Assistant Librarian N. Y. S. Library. 
" September 25, 1867." 



123 

(Prom the Daily Albany Journal Sept. 27 and Oct. 13, 1842, <ftc.) 

CHEAP KNOWLEDGE FOR THE mLLION. 

Phrenology illustrated bj a public examination of heads. Galvanism, Elec- 
tricity, and Magnetism also exhibited. 
Admission only 12>< cents. 

This looks as though ho did want to rob the i)cople. — F. C. 

The above lecturer were continued nightly above live weeks, as seen by 
the " Argus." 



[Frmn the Troy Daily Wliig, November 19, 1842.) 
83.— A PIONEER IN" CURING BY MESMERISM. 

Animal Magnetism by F. Coombs. — He is overwhelmed with applications 
for private experiments since the young lady (his pupil) so greatly relieved a 
confirmed invalid of this city, experiencing a greater relief and freedom from 
pain than for years before. 
Having witnessed the above, we can testify to the facts. 

W. A. FisK, 
C. Beeman, 
A. Lendrum, 
Mrs. Monroe, 
C. F. Kendall. 

F. Coombs has also a letter from a gentleman of Troy, dated October, 1868, 
detaihng the groat success he has had in using mesmerism in his family, com- 
mencing soon after F. Coombs' public exhibition in the science, 1842, truly 
gratifying evidence to have puWicly inaugurated a new mode of cure. F. C. 



84.— NEW YORK TESTIMONY IN PROOF OF HEALING BY MESMERISM, 
OR ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

Deeming it a duty to the public, I have to record my experience, both per- 
sonal and from hearsay, extending over a period of fifteen years past, knowing 
many very remarkable cures to have been performed by it, particularly in 
cases which have baffled the skill of orthodox physicians ; in fact, every class 
of nervous diseases can be more or less benefited by it or its kindred sciences 
— electricity, galvanism, etc ; and that man deserves to be well rewarded as a 
public benefactor, who publicly demonstrates its curative powers in so many 
cities of the Union under the fierce opposition which F. Coombs has encoun- 
tered in Troy, and other places. 

Leonard Thorn, 

45 Robinson street, New York. 

January 1, 1869. 

The New York Daily News, Jan. 7, 1869, contains two columns of testimo- 
nies, etc., of cures by magnetism and kindred sciencee. 



PROFESSIONAL TESTIMONIALS 

FEOM 

EAST, WEST, NORTH, AND SOUTH. 



This will certify that Mr. F. Coombs, Professor of Phrenology, examined the 
heads of Keokuk, the head braves, chiefs, squaws, and papooses of the Indian 
tribes of North America, with an astonishing accuracy of detail, fully satisfy- 
ing us all of the truths of phrenology. 

Antonio Leclerc, 

United Stales Agent and Interpreter. 
St. Louis, Mo., June 10, 1837. 



Frederick Coombs, Professor of Phrenology, lectured and applied the sci- 
ence to extraordinary persons in public, three times each day, consecutively 
for three weeks, to crowded audiences at Niblo's Garden, New York, October, 
1837 

John W. Chambers, 
Secretary/, American Institute, Cooper Union, 
W. S. Harrington, 

146 East Tenth street. 
J. G. Bell, 

335 Broadway. 
Octaviana Gori, 
Sculptor, S. F, 

No. 112, — 




Senate Chamber, Washington City, March 15, 1840. 

I have been most agreeably surprised and amused at the perfect accuracy 

with which Mr. F. Coombs delineated the characters of myself and friends, 

perfect strangers to him, and which could scarcely have been surpassed had 

he known us for years ; I can, therefore strongly recommend him to the public. 

Richard M. Johnson, 
Vice-President of the United States, 

For measurements of the head of the then President, Vice-President, and 
some members of the Cabinet of 1840 (F. C. then had the honor of dining 
with), also of Keo Kuck, and other Indians of the far West, see his Popular 
Phrenology, published in Boston, 1841. t 

No. 843^ New York, January 5, 1868. 

While in San Francisco in the year 1863, 1 had the pleasure of reviewing 
the three very wonderful stereoscopic apparatus, at the Phrenological oflSce of 
Prof. Coombs, on Clay street. He is a philantliropist, and deserves the sym- 
pathy of the million 

Gkorgr Washington Gilmore, 

(See also letter 93.) 376 West Thirty fourth street. 



U5 

A PIONEER OF THE BENEHCENT SQENCES IN THE VHTLDERNESS. 

(Copy No. 85.) 

I remember ProfesHor F. Coombs in tho year 1845, a pioncer,of the arts and 
scjiences, lecturing on phrenology and promulgating tho truths of spiritual 
iLagnetisra, and practising the daguerrean art, all with great success, at tho 
same time, at Meridan in tlie wilds of Louisiana, near 500 miles west of tho xMis- 
eissippi river. 

A. Coney, 
813 DuporU street, San Francisco. 
May 10, 1862. 

P. S. — The community were too rough to allow him to illustrate the delicate 
and refined truths of spiritual magnetism in public in that wildest of wild 
places, where popping off negroes, and occasionally a white man, were tho 
nightly recreations. A. C. 

P. S. — lie was told ho could have married a largo plantation of fat negroes 
about that time. 

86. (From the Troy Daily Whig^ November 14, 1842.^ 

Animal Magnetism. — F. Coombs has lectured on Phrenology in the Western 
wilds of Mississippi in the midst of opposition, with bowie knives gleaming 
around, but has never been treated so rudely before. 

(Signed) Candour. 

Such are the battles in the Life of a Pioneer of Science. See also H. Has- 
seltine's letter in Illustration No. 20, when it was then run, drink, or fight. 
He preferred the former ; was he right ? 

His raraesake, and son of General Leslie Combs, of Kentucky, was shot from 
his horse and foully murdered for declining to associate with blacklegs in 
Louisiana, opposite Bayou Sara, in 1843. The author's life was also then 
often threatened. 

The secesh, yes, the secesh, ever have been the author's greatest enemies ; 
and now if tlie Union Congress will but right the great wrongs ever done him 
by the secesh, from the time he had to leave Woodville, Mississippi, betv/een 
two days, and other places South, for promulgating the beneficent sciences of 
mesmerism, etc. ; when his life was often also endangered at Jackson, nearly 
blown up in the meeting-house. 

They thus drove out their benefactor. For a year after, Woodville was nearly 
depopulated with the dreadful scourge the cholera, and he might have saved 
many of their lives with galvanism ; he subsequently did in Chicago, in Illinois, 
1849. These advocates of the bowie-knife and revolver were ever the curse 
of California in steadily opposing everything good. 

If the Union President and Congress wish to have the Alabama claims set- 
tled, they could scarcely do a better thing than do the writer justice for his 
unrivalled patriotism for forty years past — part of the time living like a beg- 
gar to give like a prince — confirm his title of Washington the Second Conqueror, 
and send him to England as such, for they are fond of conquerors. 

The interest and honor of Americans might safely bo intrusted with a man 
who has helped poor Americans on both sides of the continent with one hun- 



126 

dred and even a thousand dollars in gold, and, as the editor of the " Call"^ 
Once said in his behalf, " one good turn deserves another." Send him back 
to England, then, as Minister to settle the Alabama Claims, should no one else 
volunteer better claims. 

No. 87. 
To F. Coombs, Esq. : 

Dear Sir. — I think I shall never forget the savage-looking Arkansas wild 
cat, with his short, stumpj tail, you used to have for a pet when I knew you 
at Alton, Illinois, in 1846. Daguerreotyping soldiers for the Mexican War * 
myself among the number, your carrying home specimens of our rare Califor- 
nia mountain cat, etc., with its beautiful large bushy tail and other peculiari- 
ties, is still another proof of your love for the meanest of God's creatures as 
well as the noblest. (See letter 38.) and illustration— No. 6. 
Yours, faithfully, 

Frank Wheeler, 
Milline^'y Store, Third street, San Francisco, Cali/omia, 
March 4, 1854. 

P. S. — This was one reason he sent the guns to Marsh's infant boys, as the 
author was quite disgusted in slaughtering the beautiful pheasants, partridges, 
etc. (See letter 87.) *A t this time he possibly took the first likeness of Gen. 
Grant, also the last one of General Jackson, the year before, at the Hermi- 
tage, when the hero was dying.) 



THE BULING PASSION STRONG EVEN IN DEATH. 



SAVING A MAN FEOM STARVATION!! 



It is diflficult to imagine a more striking illustration of the utter forgetfulness 
of self, and living so exclusively for others, as exhibited in the following letter 
of the grateful Httle Irishman John P. Hickey, former partner of Rabe, in the 
drug business on Clay St., and whom F. Coombs has not seen but once for a few 
minutes in the space of fourteen years. When passing along Montgomery St. 
one evening in 1865, he received a tremendous smack on the back, and turning 
around saw a little fellow smiling very pleasantly at him, apparently enjoying 
the surprise, when presently, he said, " Is not your name Fredy Coombs ?" and on 
replying in the affirmative, he said, " Why, you saved me from starvation here 
in pioneer times," and adding he had the hardest run of luck until lately, when 
fortune had turned greatly in his favor, and he would be delighted to pay his 
benefactor, which was very gratifying news indeed, and handing the writer his 
card asked him to call on him next day, which circumstances prevented his do- 
ing, but the following morning found he had left for Nevada, and addressing 
him a letter received the following reply : 



127 

No. 88.— (Copy abb'd.) Virqinia, May 3, 1865. 

Fred. Coombs, Esq.: 

Dear Sir, — God knows I would be very glad to respond in a fitting manner 
to your request. The city is considerably indebted to me, and I have been 
trying to get the Board of Aldermen to settle it ; but I could not get fivQ, dollars 
for all my claims at tliis time ; so there is five years more thrown away. 

Wishing you good health and the happiness you deserve, 

I remain as ever, 

Yours, with esteem, 

John P. Hickey. 

Poor fellow, such is life in California and Nevada. The writer well remembers 
helping him with part of the gold dust he had on his person after he rushed 
through the fiery furnace unscathed, leaving everything to the devouring 
flames, even property ho was loaning money on without interest to help unfor- 
tunates like Reynolds, QuihJfeldt, etc., — see their letters 13, 21, also Bradley's 
8, Penniman, 9 and 10, Skinner 11, all proving his total loss of the largest es- 
tablishment of the kind in the country, his entire property and others above 
alluded to, all haj^pening through the dreadful bigotry of the banker, Mr. Wells, 
who, poor man, seems to have suffered a living death, for, the author calling on 
him in Boston, 1868, he said he was now livhig on his friends, and so disfig- 
ured, F. G. could not recognize him in the least. He informed the writer he had 
ao doubt of the kindly warning given him by the writer, in pointing out to 
him, from our roof, Treadwell's fireproof building on Kearney street, in flames. 
Surely never did a man suffer more and cause greater misery to others from 
an error in judgment, for he had previously been the, best of landlords to the 
writer. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE FIERY ORDEAL WHICH F. COOMBS PASSED 

THROUGH UNHARMED AFTER ESCAPING FROM 

WELLS • BUILDING, MAY 4, 1851. 

Page 605, "Aimals of San Francisco" thus describes the fire of May 4, 1857: 

" Tlie tornado of fire in its devouring path over the city, furnished a scene 
of more grandeur, terror, and sublimity than any other event which has trans- 
pired in our nation during the present century. 

" The sight was sad, afflictive, awful ; men became mad, some rushed head- 
long into the flames, weeping women and prattling infancy were wandering 
amid ashes and destruction. Every few moments the earth and air trembled 
as great buildings were torn into fragments by explosions of gunpowder. In 
less than nine hours from the beginning, more than twenty squares existed 
only in memory and in smoke and flame. 

" But the saddest sight of all was the destruction of brave but bewildered 
men, who finding themselves suddenly surrounded by fire, rushed staggering 
and imcertain from flame to flame in hopeless efforts to escape, until, strangled 
and scorched, they withered and fell in full view of thousands who were en. 
tirely powerless to save them ; others, after battling the remorseless demon* 



128 

inside of what they called fire-proofs, finding their efforts to save the build- 
ing vain, endeavored to escape, but too late. The iron doors and window- 
blinds were red-hot, and in some instances could not be opened, and the last 
chance of safety faded thera. The sensations excited by gazing upon the 
blackened remains of poor humanity as they burned amidst the coals in the 
cellars, was indescribable." 

*Did not our author then conquer the Fire Fiend ? 



HE SAVES HIS OWN AND OTHERS' LIVES BY DISCOVERING 

MAGNETO-ELECTRICITY, A CERTAIN CURE 

FOR CHOLERA. 

The utter forgetfulness of self, if not perfect forgiveness of the greatest 
outrages, is farther illustrated by our author going around with the galvanic 
battery to all down with the cholera who would recei\^e it, whilst out of jail on 
bail in Chicago, detaining him there by the foulest of perjuries ; and further 
completely illustrated in the giving and forgiving the wicked woman who swore 
him into jail in 1864, above three hundred dollars, greenbacks, when jeopardizing 
his own life every day by sleeping in the noxious cellar for economy. Surely 
if patriotism consists in unselfishness and generosity to the most destitute and 
forlorn, surely these are living examples without a parallel in history, for since 
he has claimed the sympathy and co-operation of others to benefit California 
by establishing a scientific and educational Institute there, he nearly starved to 
death on that enterprise, as the following partly exhibits : 

(No. 89. — Copy.) San Francisco, August 18, 1860. 

Dear Sir, — Having accused you of living on such poor diet when located 
on the corner of California and Montgomery streets, I now humbly desire to 
apologize for so doing, having since been informed that you were at that time 
laboring under a severe state of pecuniary circumstances and experimenting 
how small an expense you could laugh and grow fat on, working hard all the 
the time. 

Samuel Prescott. 
To Frederick Coombs, Esq. 

I am well acquainted with the above party, and recommend him for veracity. 

E. S. Aldrich, M. D. 
N'o. 2 Athenceum Building. 

Our author sympathizes with " the Poor Exiles of Erin." and then plays 
" the double-barrelled coon " on the pavement in front of Mr. Beecher's 
church, January, 1868, one of the coldest nighta of the season. 

(Copy No. 90.) 
To Mr. F. Coombs ; 

Dear Sir, — I have much pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of a large 
biola woollen-lined cloak and five dollars about two years ago, fo what you 
were pleased to term great sacrifices of myself and family for the liberation 
of our beloved native land. Your writing to my namesake ex-Governor 



129 

Downey of California, and attempting to get up a subscription in onr behalf 

at Saratoga, aU voluntarily undertaken without the slightest suggestion from 

myself or friends, shows your love of freedom and equahty for all men, women 

and children. 

Your obedient friend, 

Michael Downey. 
49 East Broadway, December 17, 1868. 

The cloak thus given for the cause of liberty and philanthropy, would, no 
doubt, have been of signal service on the following bitter cold night, alluded 
to by tlie " Brooklyn Daily Eagle," January 9, 1868, written by Dolby himself, 
assisted probably by Dickens, who is particularly severe on the spirit of 1776, 
as much nearly as Benedict Arnold himself; for like him those good men are 
virtuously and exceedingly opposed to all speculators in their tickets. " Two 
of a trade never did agree." 



SCENE AT PLYMOUTH CHURCH. 

*' Another crowd, headed by the venerable old speculator Coombs, whose 
sands of life have been running something like a hundred years, with an 
older felt hat, rolled himself like a double-barrelled coon in a ragged blanket 
and tied his long hair under his chin, with his candle-box under his arm, 
prepared to make a night of it." 

The following testimonial from the editors. Mayor of San Francisco, brother 
artists, etc., confirms it, and forms part of his recommendations to the Legisla- 
ture of California, 1860 ; but alas ! without favorable results : 

San Francisco, AxHENiEDM Buildings, Sept. 3, 1860. 

We certify that as a California pioneer, F. Coombs, Esq., voluntarily pre- 
ferred to live like a beggar to enable him to give like a prince, a sovereign 
American prince by nature, not an artificial, accidental one. 

We also pronounce him most worthy to assume the costume of the illustrious 
Founders of our glorious Republic, to the leaders of which his person and 
character bear an extraordinary resemblance, there being more than twenty 
parallel or corresponding passages in Washington's Memoirs and F. Coombs* 
testimonials, correspondence, etc. 

Editors of Herald, Alta, Times, Gazette, Pacific, Methodist, California Ex- 
press, Golden Era, Democrat, Hatchings' Magazine, these being the most intelli- 
gent and patriotic body of men in the State of California. 

In perfect accordance with the above opinions, and as the most striking 
contrast to the cavalier-like treatment of the so-called Attorney-General, it 
is extremely gratifying to be able to record the substantial appreciation 
given to the subscriber by our present distinguished Attorney-General, the 
Honorable Mr. Evarts, whilst a member of the New York State Convention ; 

.w,. ., _,. ., .. .. ... ^/ yU^^ 

literally pushing money into his pocket on hearing his appeal to the conven 
tion at Albany, 1867. (See, also, illustration 66.) : General Vallijot did him 



130 

the same kindueBS in 1860. An example set by three of the most just and 
generous men in the United States — an example, it is hoped, that may be foV- 
lowed by the Union Congress of the United States in 1869. 



EXPERIENCES WITH THREE ATTORNEY-GENERALS. 

^ The following extracts from the Australian legal authorities, exhibiting 
their sympathy and appreciation of F. Coombs' exertions to benefit their 
country, by his importations of the sciences and arts, is respectfully sub- 
mitted : 

Crown Law Office, 
91 Melbourne, 30^^ November, 1857. 

I am directed by the Attorney-General, in acknowledging the receipt of 
your letter of this date, to inform you that he will not prohibit the lottery 
of works of art which you propose to hold. 

I have the honor to be, sir, 

Your obedient servant, 




Mr. Frederick Coombs. 



He would also gratefully add, that two Australian judges departed from 
their usual routine to do him justice, by which in one case he received £24 
from a rascal who had the impudence to sue the author for £5. The judges 
and officials there do not appear to be in league with thieves ; contra, read 
H. W. Beecher's sermon on the Whiskey Rings. * 

AUSTRALIA. 

"New York Tribune" November 16, 1868, has the following in proof: 
" Mr. Hugh Park, who had gotten up a lottery, but had been prevented 
by the Attorney-General from proceeding with it, intends to charter a 
steamer, so that the drawings may take place upon the high seas." 

* {From the Tribune, November 16, 1868.) 
" Justice is bought and sold or knocked down to the highest bidder. The 
very word ' Judge ' stinks, and could these so-called ministers of justice," 
etc., etc. 

The above concession in Australia was a remarkable instance of courtesy 
towards an American, for some had been imprisoned there for a year for less 
gambling than the contemplated lottery involved. But the Fraser River gold 
excitement reaching Australia, determined the author to return to California, 
where a rank secesh, Attorney-General Williams, treated him most cavalierly, 
although furnished with the following letter of introduction to him in 1859. 
This same fellow, it was reported, rode around Sacramento City within 
an hour after, with a wretch who had been liberated on bail for murdering 
in the Capitol building a Mr. Bell, formerly of Ohio, and then a member of 



131 

the Lcgifilature. On hearing of this most outrageous and unprovoked assassi- 
nation, the author went to see if he could be of any assistance, but found 
poor Mr Bell breathing his last from a ghastly wound in his left side. 

He was then lying on a cot, rear of a saloon opposite the Capitol, a victim 
to his honorable principles, he having refused to join in a plundering 
Bcheme. 

The following letter of introduction from an old pioneer lawyer of San 
Francisco scarcely procured the slightest attention from the Attorney-General 
of Cahfomia: 

92— (Copy.) San Francisco, April 9, 1859. 

My Deab Sir, — The bearer. Mr. F. Coombs, was a fellow-passenger with me 
in 1849. 

He has been out of the State much of the intervening time, but never 
failed to do all in his power to promote its best interests. He suffered very 
much here by the early fires, but is as energetic as ever in his pursuits. He 
has an enterprise on hand in which he seeks the assent of the State authorities. 
He will apprise you of his plans. If you can promote them in any way con- 
sistent with your duties, you will confer a favor on Mr. Coombs, who, I have 
no doubt, is well deserving of it. 

Yours, very truly, 

Gregory Yale. 

Thomas H.^Williams, Esq., 
AitoT^ey-General, 

Sacramento, Cal 

The following is a description of three mammoth stereoscopes forming part 
of his importation of above fifty cases before alluded to. The rosewood 
cases for these cost above one hundred dollars each. Southwortli's price 
was two hundred and fifty dollars before a picture was put in them. None but 
a most enthusiastic cold-water man could have labored and expended so 
largely, hoping to make the poor inebriates in love with the glories of 
Niagara. 

It is gratifying to find from the following testimony of London artists, 
the New World was still ahead of the Old World in this branch of the 
fine arts : 

TEMPERANCE ILLUSTRATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. 
93— (Copy.) 

Having been kindly invited by Mr. F. Coombs to inspect his views of 
the Cataract of Niagara and the Suspension Bridge, we have much pleasure 
in pronouncing them, in execution and in selection of points of view, 
infinitely superior to the Niagara taken by the distinguished Mr. Mayall 
of London. 

The mode of exhibiting them is also quite new and very beautiful, 
uniting the stereoscopic and cosmoramic eflfects, giving the scenes a 
wonderful resemblance and appearance of reality which cannot be sur- 
passed. 

T. Jones and Wife, Artists. 

Late 537 New Oxford Street, London. 
Temperance LEAOtJE Hall, 
Mklbourne, Australia, December 7, 1857. 
See niustration No. 20. 



I remember seeing those beautiful etereoecopes of Mr, Coombs while 1 wa« 
in California. 

A, Hagelstein, 
N'ew York, 182 Broadway, 

These were totally destroyed by fire September 18, 1865, at Coe & Law- 
rence's, comer of Grand and Cherry streets. 

The " Evening Star," dated Philadelphia, Saturday, December 23, 1866, 
has the following in proof of F. Coombs' loss of property by fire when in 
possession of others, fourth time out of six, and forcibly taken possession 
of by the rich bankers, on May 4, 1851, described, (see letters 8, 9, 10), 
when he lost more by far than the other five times put together. 

" A Loser. — Mr. Coombs, the * Matrimonial Promoter ' and wearer of 
cocked hats and silk stockings, was one of the losers by the fire yes- 
terday." 



From the ''New York Herald;' December 30, 1868. 
REPORTED SPEECH OF DR. MORSE. 

" In 1858, ten of the European nations awarded me the sum of forty thou- 
sand francs as an honorary gratuity." 

" My earliest desire was that the United States should possess the telegraph, 
and I offered the whole invention to the Government for one hundred thou- 
sand dollars." 

" In 1847 the proposition was virtually killed by the Postmaster-General, who 
reporterl that the operation of the telegraph between the city of Washing- 
ton and Baltimore had not satisfied him that, under any rate of postage that can 
be adopted, its revenues can be made to equal its expenditures." 

On February 21, 1843, Mr. Morse adds in his speech, Mr. Cave Johnson 
made a motion " that one-half of the thirty thousand dollars then appropriated 
to test the practicability of the electric telegraph should be devoted to the 
development of mesmerism also," each of which sciences the author had not 
only desired, but had fully proven and demonstrated in the Capital of the State 
of New York and the national Capital for twelve and a half cents each, clearly 
showing he not only desired ihd.i the United States, but everybody else, should 
possess not only the telegraph, but the mesmeric and magnetic healing and mo- 
tive powers for the above very reasonable sum (see pages 69 and 123), that 
sum having been necessary to defray current expenses ; and the Albanians of that 
generation were so delighted and astonished with the startling demonstrations 
of mesmerism, that they filled the Lecture Hall for nearly forty nights con- 
secutively, he leaving there only because arrangements had been made pre- 
viously in the city of Troy. He also lectured in 1837 ill New York city for 
123^ or 25 cents on the then ridiculed science of phrenology a still greater num- 
ber (f nights or days consecutively, exceeding in number any scientific demon- 
stration ever obtained in the United States, or that he is aware of. 

Having thus not only desired but virtually made a free gift (for ^.2 or 25 
cents) of all these beneficent sciences, for which such enormous grants 



133 

have been made to others who came after liim, it is hoped Congress will duly 
appreciate the utter unselfishness of the man who has thus devoted himself 
and his means for the benefit of others, even to the Antipodes, having been 
there honored with the title of " Missionary of Science and Teacher of the 
Beautiful and True," with such evidences of world-wide patriotism, and more 
particularly in California. It is hoped and believed that Congress or the people 
will duly appreciate and reward these beneficent exertions proportionate to 
the titles he has received from the greatest men in the United States, as per 
pages from 29 to 32 inclusive, most abundantly certified by evidence in his 
possession. 

The author again repeats most emphatically that he carried messages by 
the electric telegraph on February 3, 1840, long before any other man in the 
United States did so in public; not only this, but the far more difficult, expen- 
sive, and elaborate feat of carrying passengers, also, with identically the same 
battery. He also carried passengers in the Capital of the Nation and other 
large cities in 1839-40, for which and kindred patriotisms, etc., which have 
impoverished him, he respectfully prays for reciprocity, relief, and compensa- 
tion from the people or their Congress. (See Illustration 82 and page 68.) 

Did not our author then get a leetle ahead of Professor ^Morse in priority, 
and $100,000 in patriotism? less 25 cents. (See pages 63, 68, and 69.) 

The following editorial is one, it is believed, expressing the sentiments of 
Saratoga residents, where F. Coombs is known thirty years past, to Ransom 
Cook and others : 

From tlie Saratoga Sentinel, Friday, August 21, 1868. 
IN TOWN. 

That venerable Washingtonian — Franklin — old continental — veteran. Pro- 
fessor Coombs, is again with us, selling his life (in book form only), and circulat- 
ing his petition to be presented to Congress claiming relief which he is justly 
entitled to. We bid him godspeed, as he is in favor of " woman's rights." *- 

He appends the following letter in proof that his importations to California, 
alluded to also on page 88, were of the most beneficial character, and entitling 
him to legislative relief. (For proof see page 41.) 

San Francisco, March 11, 1859. 

Mr. F. Coombs having recently exhibited a series of Scriptural and other 
scenes by magic lantern in the Pine Street Baptist Church, adapted to com- 
bine instruction and pleasure, especially to children, we take pleasure in com- 
mending his efforts to others who may desire to procure his services for simi- 
lar purposes. . J. B. Saxton, 

Pastor of Fine Street Baptist Church. 

The following exhibits proof how readily some claims are passed in Con- 
gress, giving him hopes that his for above forty years such patriotic services 
and expenditures will be allowed : 

From the New York Herald, March 13, 1867. 
RELIEF OF AN IRON-CLAD CONTRACTOR. 
Mr. ConnesB (Rep.), of California, called up a resolution directing the pay- 
ment to Donohue, Ryan, and Secor of $170,000, to make good their loss on the 
contract for building the iron-clad Comanclie, which was passed. 



134 



MORE LAND GRANTS WANTED FOR CALIFORNIA. 

Mr. Cole (Rep ) of California, iutroduced a bill to enable the State of 
California to reclaim certain unproductive lands within her limits; also a bill 
to grant lands to California for the construction of a canal for irrigating pur- 
poses. Referred to the Commissioners on Public Lands. 

Forty years since our author also made a free land grant of four hundred 
half-acre homesteads. 

The following is only one $50 investment out of a hundred similar help- 
ing ruined men and their families (page 36) : 

If there are any who think the interest (on page 137) extravagant, let such 
double the interest annually on fifty dollars for forty years, (or from 1829 
to 1869,) deducting $20 received in 1849, they will find it foots up $105,. 
551,152,291,860,840.00, which is less than half the interest paid by the 
writer in Australia, in 1857, and exactly the interest he offered for one 
hundred dollars to two English Shylocks in New York, when leaving for 
California in 1849 (see pages 52 and 53) — ^proof by the following : 

In 1852 I paid one and sixpence per week for each one pound (sterling,) 
I borrowed in Melbourne, Australia. 

Witness, James Russell, 

T. W. R. Thompson, Office-keeper at 
Original House, San Francisco, Cal. 

January 11th, 1861. 

This would absorb the principal in less than fourteen weeks. F. C. 

Congress will, by their action, now pronounce that man a suicide or a pat- 
riot, who thus most unmistakeably submits the strongest evidences in- 
above ninety (abbreviated) letters, and other evidences in this book, that 
he has preferred the public good to his own private aggrandisement or 
whether they pronounce that man a suicide or a patriot who scorned to re- 
ceive the price of blood from two foreign despots, in 1838 and 1851, the 
latter case proveh by certified letter in his possession. (See pages 92 and 
93.) " For he doth take my life who takes the means whereby I live." 
If Congress pays part of his most righteous claims, he could then finish the 
work begun in 1851, restoring millions of acres (common lands) in Eng 
land to the rightful owners — ^the poor, whom he remembers in full possea 
sioh of it, coming down from time immemorial, whilst it can scarcely be 
supposed that the man who thus restored property (so far as gold coull 
do so,) after having it in possession and disposed of it undisputed neaily 
forty years, would now ask a portion even of unjust claims from those he has 
helped (the Americans,) with gold so freely for forty years past, even be- 
fore seeing the country himself ; and yet they had then most unjustly leg- 
islated to his prejudice, disqualifying him for President, although hon- 
ored by the press of California — where best known — with the title of 
" Washington the 2(3 Conqueror," Uncle Freddy, and Free Ditcher the First, 
etc. 



135 



Here is a regular American Johu Hancock autograph-rocommendation ; 




Union Printing House, 79 John street, New York, worth more than forty 
purse-proud, ungrateful, English male relations the author once owned. 

MISS 

MRS. ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, 
And her noble compatriots, advocates of Woman's Rights. 

Additional to the autograph recomraendatioils of Governors, Judges, 
Mayors, etc., alluded to on page 29, now nearly 100 feet long, to be pre- 
sented to Congress asking for relief. 

This will certify F. Coombs took up this petition on top of Independence 
Hill, and State House, Philadelphia, and unfurled it to the breeze, on Feb- 
ruary 28, 1867. 

George W. Buckley, 

' Watchman. 

Regarding the Legislature and Judges as the creations of Congress, the 
highest tribunal and law-making power, his remedy, therefore, must be 
found in Congress, for outrages by both Legislatures and corrupt Judges 
having been sworn into jails in Chicago and California, after doing very es- 
pecial kindnesses to both perjured wretches, by the collusion of corrupt 
Judges. " Let justice take its course, though the heavens should lall." A 
citizen of the United States above thirty-six years, is entitled to justice and 
reciprocity, it is hoped and believed. 

F. COOMBS. 

Heavy Assessment on Old Trinity. — It is currently reported that the vast 
propert}' of Trinity Church has been assessed in the sum of about four 
hundred thousand dollars for the extension of Church street. If this state- 
ment should prove true, then Anneke Jans, or rather her numerous de- 
scendants, will be partially avenged by a municipal Nemesis. Trinity has 
grown fat and insolent on the proceeds of their valuable real estate ; and 
the period has happily arrived when Danscombe and company must dis- 
gorge a portion of their ill-gotten wealth. — Sunday Mercury, Jan'y 17, 1869. 
(Cauldwell & Whitney, Ed.) 



136 

The Congress and People op the United States, 

To F. Coombs, or Washington Second, Dr. 

A loyer of republicanism, forty-one years ago assisting two poor fami- 
lies out of failure and misery in England into affluence and plenty on 
this continent, the recipients of his charity in one case he had never 
seen nor then related to him (see letters 71 and 80); making it a gift 
of four hundred half-acre homesteads. The other farailj'- were first 
cousins, and have probably paid taxes into the United States Treas- 
ury on half a million of dollars annually for many years ; they have 
married often and well (see letters && and 67), raised three preachers, 
and many very tall religious houses (illustration 91), all which might 
have been lost to the United States without the necessary bedding and 
provisions for the tedious voyage across the ocean, which he freely 
furnished his poor relations then, and twenty times since to others 
(page 190, etc.,) in this case before seeing the United States himself. 
He has received twenty dollars in 1849, and now they say the claim 
is outlawed (letter 66). Your petitioner therefore prays for justice 
for benefits thus accruing to the United States by his expenditures 
before seeing it ^100 

To inventing and freely presenting the Electric Telegraph and kindred 
sciences to the people of the United States and the world ; he there- 
fore prays for an honorary gratuity, in imitation of the European 
Governments to Dr. Morse (for proof see page 132) 100,000 

Publishing and lecturing for his Free Homestead plan (the only consti- 
tutional one), for constructing the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, 

1848-49 to date . . , « 1,000 

(For favorable Congressional report, see " Alta," April 3, 1862.) 

Though burnt out three times in one year, yet volunteering aid with 
gold to many distressed Californians, from 1849 to 1852, in sums 
from twentj^-five dollars up to one thousand dollars each,hoping to aid 
in developing the wealth of the State, or helping them to marry, etc. ' 
(before he felt rich enough to marry himself), never receiving but 
one ounce back, yet finishing his course of pioneer loving kindness 
by volunteering gold to put in operation a stuck-fast ditch machine, 
walking forty miles, working a week, paying his own travelling ex- 
penses, and instead of getting his gold returned, was charged ten 

dollars for shanty board 300 

(Jos. Coe remarking, he ought to have made a bargain.) 

To voluntarily representing the State, east and west, by her most 
beautiful productions, for a charity, fall of 1852-53, to bring ladies 
to California. (See page 79, or 71 to 83.) , 5,000 

1853 forgot the loss by ditching in 1852, and advanced* Yankee* 

stitching machines, without interest or security 2,433 

Voluntarily giving away the last dollar of his pile to the widows and 
orphans of New York in 1857, by testimony of Orphan Poetess and 
others here. (Letter 56.) 2,000 



* National Institution. 



13T 

Heroically trusting to Divine Providence and Calilornia justice and 
generosity for thus gloriously representing her for five years at the 
East (pure patriotism). Had ho not on his return there in 1858, 
been compelled to apply to others for aid (almost the first time in a 
long life/, he would never have discovered the extraordinary resem- 
blance between General Washington and himself in loving kindness. 

To voluntarily importing fifty-one packages highly beneficial and edu- 
cational apparatus, recommended by the clergy of California, and 
the wise provisions of the Constitution of this State (see Art. 9, Sec. 
2), said goods perishing since 1858, F. C. having vainly applied to 
tliree past Legislatures for assistance to save said property 5,000 



Sum total, [California Compound Interest, 3 per 

cent, added] $17,733,000,000,000,000 00 

P. S. — The printer guessed at the interest ; but he paid 10 per cent- in Cali- 
fornia and 20 in Australia per month. 

But the following exhibits the rate the author is now paying, only 25 per 
cent., for greenbacks to get his claims before the Congress and people of the 
United States, 
Copy No. 146. 

J. B. & J. Simpson, 
25 Chatham street and 19 North William street, 
30th November, 1868. 

Gold lever, $20.00 Mr. Coombs. 

Not answerable in case of fire or damage. Twenty-five percent, per annum. 
Five cent stamp. 

The following nearly equals the horrors of Andersonville Prison Pens. 

The natural result of fighting so many fiends. (See pages 111 and 112.) 

San Francisco, Jany. 10, 1864. 

I am witness to the fact of hearing James Johnson say he had prevailed 
on Thos. K. Batelle, F. Coombs' landlord, to swindle him out of his Pioneer 
Daguerrean (xallery on Montgomery street in 1852, after his places of business 
had been destroyed three times in one year, 1850 and 1851, 

I can also certify that F. Coombs has been living in a damp cellar for 
economy for about one year past, wearing leather inexpressibles, without 
socks or underclothing, and never saw a fire in his subterreanean abode the 
only ill efi'ects it seemed to have on him, it gave him a very severe appe- 
tite, he having invited me to take some cheap California hash with him 
and once was enough for rac, such vile cooking, ko. 

R. W. D. Bryant. 

About this time he forgave or gave the greenback lady above 300 dol- 
lars in greenbacks. 

The following, from " American Agriculturist," October, 1867, described his 
feelings, on half killing the beautiful birds with the guns he put to so much 
better purpose in 1828 or 1829 : (See letter 71.) (Illu^. 25, and p. 30.) 

" We do not envy him who can pick up the still warm bird— its fliglit for 
freedom and life cut short without an emotion of regret,'' yet the wholesale 
slaughter of the most beautiful birds in creation is, or was the highest ambition 
of the high, old, British aristocracy as he remembers them. (See illus. 110.) 




POETEAIT OP ANOTHER FIBM ALLY OF THE BRITISH GOVERN- 
MENT IN Mourning for their Sins. 



The phrenological opinions, published by F. Coombs nearly 
thirty years since, of this notorious loyalist and the great Canadian 
patriots Mackenzie, etc., have been most remarkably verified in 
the subsequent distinguished careers of the patriots, for publish- 
ing which scientific truths the mean Canadians falsely advertised 
they had him in jail in Montreal, 1842. (See appendix to Coombs' 
Popular Phrenology, for sale by F. Coombs at 25 cents. 



!// 



mill'lip''' 



%//,J 



•ll^ 



A CORRECT PORTRAIT OF A. Mc'LEOD. 



MR. MC'lEOD's own DESCRIPTION OF HIS MORAL CHARACTER, 
Communicated to Dr. J. A. H. of New- York. 

" I admit I am not what the world calls a moral man. Not that 
I am dishonest. No. When I was serving as sergeant in the 12th 
Lancers, at London, I got into debt, and lived on sixpence a day til. 
I got out of debt. But I have kissed men's wives and daughters. 
I wont say so much about the wives, but I am pretty certain about 
the daughters. When Mrs. Taylor claimed my protection, I gave 
it, and got her lodgings. Then I thought that, as I had gone so far 
there could not be great wrong in my taking a quid pro quo. So 
vou see that is the way this affair terminated." 



139 

tut Firm Ally of Old Tory Governments 




ioung Allii^ator from S<jiilh AiiuTica, with enonnous Destrucliveness, no 
iKX, aud without a particle of the Moial Seutiiiients — (ell mouth.) 



The Old Tory British Government, who are debtors 

to Frederick Coombs $10,000 

damages for false imprisonment at St. Helena in 1823, for his 
supposed sympathy with poor old Napoleon, then lately de- 
ceased on that most inhospitable barren rock-bound island 
prison, when F. Coombs' sole ambition was to please the kind 
old Aunt Coombs of Mrs. Upjohn, of Trinity Building, Now 
York, by procuring her a sprig of the willow growing over 
Napoleon's tomb, which detained him out later than their 
ai'bitrary military laws permitted ; hence his arrest as a Napo- 
leonic suspicious character. The same wreath of willow was 
kept many years (and is still, probably) as a most valued sou- 
venir by his kind old aunt, Anna Coombs, and family. Undoubt- 
edly these Tory villains ought to have been in jail instead of him- 
self, both at St. Helena and Canada 1842. (See page 98, Coombs' 
Phrenology.) To $10,000 damages for manufacturing and falsely 
publishing a deliberate lie in the tory paper at Montreal, C. E., 
that F. Coombs was safely lodged in jail for sedition, etc., de- 
stroying his fine business there, and mobbing him out of that 
city, when he was merely sympathizing with the exiled patriots, 
Mackenzie, etc., by publishing the following scientific truths, hop- 
ing to save those noble men whom the Government were then 
offering £500 reward for their heads. Said heads were after- 
wards found, as F. C. then published them, as first-rate No. 1 
heads, proving him the friend of the oppressed exiled patriots in 
each hemisphere of the globe. 

P.S. — He calls this latter incident Aay^/i^ been one-Jtalf time in 
]fnJ^ boor^u'^o half the people thought him in. (See page 106.) 



Td the Honorable the President and Representatives of Congress 



Your Petitioner most respectfully appeals his claims from the late secesh 
Legislatures of California — copies of petitions to whom may be found on pages 
40, 87, and 111 his volume. He bases his legal claim for damages and inju- 
ries done him by the Legislatures of those respective dates, 1859 to 1863, 
grossly violating or neglecting the wise provisions of the Constitution of that 
State, by reason of which the whole importation, consisting of beneficial sci- 
entific apparatus, your Petitioner made on his return to California in 1858» 
hoping to benefit the People, all which importation became a total final loss by 
fire in New York at Coe & Lawrence's, September 18, 1865. 

Your Petitioner in addition presents some of the highest moral claims 
ever presented to the Honorable Congress, as set forth in this volume, having 
now on hand the most miquestioned proofs of having been the Pioneer Invent- 
or, Builder, and Operator of the first public Telegraph on the Cowtinent of 
America, praying for relief and compensation for above forty years' similar 
patriotic services for suffering humanity. Your Petitioner will ever pray, &c. 

New York, Jidy 4, 1868. Y. COOMBS. 

The following embraces only a small portion of said patriotic services : 

Petition to the above ffonorahles, the Governors, the Ladies, and Legislative 
Bodies of the United States. vnrtkxlfvAv of California, New York^ and 
Illinois. 

Your Petitioner having the complete evidences by letters of F. MARRioTT,fT. 
Shaw, H. W. Bradley, Julius Skinner, and other Pioneers, that his business 
places in San Francisco, were destroyed three times in one year (1850 & '1) and evi- 
dence of R. W. D. Bryant, that he was swindled out of his Dag'n Gallery, — 1852, 
(equal to fourth fire,) and miraculously escaping just alive from both fires and assas- 
sins. Your Petitioner herewith submits sworn and other proofs of helping the poorest 
of the poor with a thousand in gold, others by the hundred, and receiving only one 
oz. back from all, yet voluntarily, after this, doing some ditching free, paying his own 
board, &c., then expending thousands to benefit the State, by purchasing at high 
prices her most beautiful products, transporting them many thousand miles to Chicago, 
III., and there giving them for exhibition for a charity, during their stay in that city, 
(1852,) of which facts, however, your Petitioner has but lately obtained complete 
proofs, and in addition to A. S. Evans and others, he can now refer to Lieut. Gov. 
Bross, of Illinois. Your Matrimonial Promoter presses this most riqhteoits claim for 
payment as a public benefaction to the three States, above mentioned, hoping he did 
a three-fold good ; 1st, — his charity, feeding the hungry ; 2nd, — bringing female emi- 
gration to the Pacific, to give all the boys a chance for that greatest of ewtk/y joys, a 
nice wife, thus increasing population and wealth of the State ; 3rd and 4:th, — giving 
the millions free homes, by his Atlantic and Pacific Homestead Plan, and as a proof, 
he gave the means to the poor Marsh family, 1828, (same to others in 1851 and '57,) 
to buy 200 acres, and assisted six other families, 1828 & '9, four of them now rich and 
ungrateful aristocrats, and proof of it but just received in 1866. 

Yottr Petitioner believing these generous patriotisms to be unparalleled 
tn the. history of man^ respectfully asks for better pay than the hospitalities of a deep, 
::ark and damp cellar, (see him in cut) or even the more pleasant quarters of a Jail, 
(see S. F. Press, Feb. 6th, 9th, 10th, 186-1.) Your Petitioner most respectfully and 
most solemnly protests against this mcde of rewarding him, and most respectfully 
asks for some reciprocity in the shape of gold he assisted Pioneers, &c., with, and in 
accordance with the high titles bestowed on him by the generous press, and recom- 
mendations of the highest civil, military, and judicial authorities of California. Your 
petitioner having lost again by fire in Coe & Lawrence's, Sept. 18, 1865, the most 
valuable portion of the remaining fifty-one packages of bent fiial apparatus, he hoped 
to benefit California on his return there in 1858, almost flat broke. 

Your petitioner relying, on these facts, and similar patriotisms, extending thirty- 
nine years back, hopes the justice and generosity of the Legislature of California will 
award him some return for these great self-sacrificing patriotisms, and he wiU 
erer pray, &c., ' p COOMBS. 



DESCRIPTIVE 



OF THB 



PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATIONS. 



6. General Grant's youngest daughter at five years of age. 

6. Burke, the noble English Champion of Liberty for his beloved 
America. 

6. Count Pulaski, the noble Polish Hero, who gloriously fell fighting for 
liberty in the New World, unable to rescue his own bleeding country from the 
foreign tyrant's yoke of slavery ; but alas ! who will reciprocate and help the 
noble and gallant Polanders in their heroic struggles for the same liberty 
and independence ? 

And freedom shrieked when Eosciusku fell I" 
15. Fire and water shall sooner united be, than he who has proven himsel^ 
more tender-hearted than any lady (see page 30), who shall never ally himself 
to the horrid barbarians who can thus torture, mutilate, and flog young kdies 
in public for simply wearing an obnoxious-colored garment. Avaunt! thou 
horrid spectre. See illustration 16 and page 59, and article headed " Cruelty 
and Courtship." 

{From the Day's Doings.) 

CRUELTY iND COURTSHIP IN POLim 

New York, November 17, 1868. 

" The unhappiest land beneath the sun is the fair land of Poland. Even 
our own ill-starred South is not yet in so desperate a condition as the 
clime of Pulaski and of Kosciusko. The Polish man is the most persecuted 
of all the human beings that walk this earth, except the Polish woman, 
and both are alike to be pitied and respected by us Americans — pitied for 
their suflferings, and respected for that patriotism which no sufferings can ex- 
tinguish 

" A recent instance forcibly illustrates our general statement : 

" The national colors of Poland are a combination of black and gray, and 
wearing these colors, or any scarf or dress of these colors, has been strictly 
prohibited by the Russian conquerors. 

" But spite of threats and edicts, several young girls, beautiful as Polish 
women usually are, dressed themselves in black and gray, and walked abroad 
through the streets of Wilna to defy their oppressors. The latter were 
on the alert, and ere the women had proceeded many rods they were seized 
by a band of Russian soldiers and carried before a Russian captain, and tried 
before a Kudsiao court-martial, who condoznaed them at once to the Rusaian 



14:2 

knout, which punishment was straightway inflicted, spite of the loveliness and 
youth of the poor girls, spite of the cries and shrieks and prayers so natural to 
even the bravest females under the circumstances. The persons of the fair 
patriots were shamelessly exposed, and the blows of the cruel lash fell upon 
them pitilessly. They were then dismissed with taunts and ignominy. 

" But to every cloud there is a silver lining, and now the young men of 
Poland appeared upon the scene. Though they could not prevent the wrongs 
inflicted upon their fair countrywomen, they could at least heal the wounds 
of their co-patriots, and they did so. 

" A number of noblemen, members of some of the best families, possessors of 
some of the finest blood in Poland, forthwith ofiered the afflicted young 
ladies marriage upon the spot, convinced that true patriots must make true 
wives. The courtship was short and sweet, but decisive and honorable to all 
parties concerned, and thus good came out of evil, thus glory came out of 
shame and disgrace, and thus were several beautiful young women whipped 
into wifehood." 

REMARKS. 

Every true-hearted American must feel a pang of sorrow and indignation 
to read such an instance of cruelty and barbarism on defenceless women- 
With what horror, therefore, must not such be regarded by one *' who is re- 
puted to have given away thousands of dollars to poor ladies to assist them in 
getting married." Thrice happy man to have preferred returning " to the 
land of the free and the home of the brave," and help all poor Americans 
with everything they asked for, even when burnt out three times a year, and 
have presented the people the first electric telegraph of the world, than to 
have received any amount of gold and honors to help the savage Russians to 
destroy the gallant Poles, and to treat the patriotic females worse than lions, 
tigers, or hyenas treat their females. Surely such men are more wicked than 
any animal. F. C. 

82. Description of the diagram of Coombs' Pioneer Electric Telegraph : 
Letters A A, the same pair of batteries used for generating the electric 
fluid by which he then carried passengers ; B the helix or coil for char- 
ging the Electro-Magnet, which, by attracting the upright bar C, moved the 
letter B into view at pigeon-hole B E, illustrated by the pigeon-holes above 
corresponding to the letters of the alphabet, etc., each letter, when required 
to form sentences, having been operated or brought into view similarly to 
letter B. See page 68, containing first announcement of the Electric Telegraph 
in this country or any other. 

Still ahead of all creatioa, 
The Universal Yankee Nation. 

86. DESCRIPTION OF THE LATE EARTHQUAKE IN CALIFORNM. 

A WARNING VOICE FROM ON HIGH. 

Sermon of Joseph Sadoc, Archbishop of San Francisco. 
" It is with heartfelt regret we declare that it is our sins which forced the 
angry heavens to pour the vials of tribulation upon us." 
Frona the San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 21, 1868. 
On the 21st inst. our city was visited by an earthquake the severest by far 
that was ever experienced here. The shook commenced by a slight tremor, 



143 

then an undulating motion followed, gentle at first, but increasing in violence 
until the earth seemed rapidly jerked back and forth, and ending witii a sharp 
twist violent enotigh to almost throw men from their feet. This motion lasted 
during a period of time that is variously estimated from 42 to 4G seconds. 
During its continuance the ground swelled and rolled like the heaving of the 
ocean ; billows could be seen coming over the land, shaking and toppling the 
buildings in their course, raising them to the crest of the rollers, and, as the 
wave passed on, settling them in their former positions. A gentleman who 
was driving on the Ocean House road at the time was surprised at the singular 
action of his horse. The animal snorted, pricked up his ears, and was seized 
with a trembling as if in great fjar. Upon looking ahead on the road he 
could see a wave as if on the ocean, making its way rapidly toward the city, 
with smaller waves following in its rear. In many portions of the city the 
ground settled, and in other places it opened for some distance. The effect on 
the populace was one of extreme fear. People rushed from their dwellings 
into the streets, some of them jumping from their beds and running out 
in their night-clothes, and in a few minutes the streets were filled 
with frightened people. Many of them ran to the public squares, others 
sought the water front to embark upon some sailing craft, deeming it safer on 
the water, and many gained the centre of the streets, and stood there to avoid 
the falling of buildings, which they feared must immediately follow. On the 
solid ground in the suburbs, however, the panic soon subsided in a measure, 
and people returned to their dwellings, but gathered together such articles of 
apparel as were deemed necessary for immediate use, ready to run away again 
upon a repetition of the shock. Soon the tidings came from the lower por- 
tion of the city that buildings had been destroyed, and in the excitement of 
the hour exaggerated stories were set afloat to the effect that hundreds of 
people had been killed. At 10:35 a. m. a second shock occurred, but not equal 
in severity or duration to the first, and at 11:20 a. m. another, still lighter, 
while throughout the day there were frequent slight shocks and tremors, some 
of them barely perceptible, but in the excited state of the public mind they 
were suflBcient to prevent the f^ars of the people from being allayed. 

106. General Grant and Sc^huyler Colfax taking a pleasant tour to the 
"White House, keeping always to the right. 

107. One of the Earliest Settlers in -our extreme Southern Possessions. 
108 The last of the Bend. 

110. NAEEOW ESCAPE FEOM ASSASSIKATIOK. 

This savage strongly reminds the author of a similar one who twice stopped 
hia mule on the Isthmus, 1852, and demanded money. As the writer had 
exchanged his revolver for mountain cats at Mar3'sville, he had nothing to do 
but tj sing out for help, as the savage had a long knife under his arm ; and 
most singularly, two Californians immediately appeared with their revolvers, 
who would have shot the savage, but the author begged them not to shoot 
the retreating rascal. Perhaps he did wrong, but General Washington once 
begged the life of an Indian who had threatened his life. This he learned 
ten years afterwards. 

P.O. 




(28^.) '•Washington the Second Conqueror. He ©f the buckskin garments, popu- 
larly known as Free Ditcher the First, or Washington the Second, is ti'iumph- 
antly released, the Police Court deciding that the charge of grand larceny 
against him was nothing but an attempt to force greenbacks on him in pay- 
ment of a note, which by special contract called for gold, the case was there- 
fore abruptly dismissed." 

From the San Fiancisco Daily Evening Bulletin, February 10, 1864. 



For list of additional titles see pages 29, 30, 31, 32. and 33, also pages 104 
and 105 as to his incarceration in jail, how he got out, etc., February 6, 1864. 

The above engraving was very kindly presented by Judge MatselL & Co . 



uomQ 
diialiiiiQ 




82.^ Diagram of the Pioneer Electric Telegraph, invented, built, and operated 
by F. Coombs in Washington Citj, February 3, 1840. (See page 142. 





(83) Banking-House of WeJls & Co. as it appeared before the great fire of 
May 4, 1851, in which about twenty were nearly burnt to death — F. Coombs 
then losing every cherished memento of the past, the cloak even burnt from 
his bacL (See letters of Lucian Skinner, H. W. Bradley, and others.) 




84 The Little Plougiiboy. — The author, at ten years of age, when 

the cousins of the U s, at Kilmington, made him a ploughboy, at 6d 

per week, whilst receiving ten times that amount for their orphan cousin't^ 
board (ploughbo^;,'^; board); making him the servant of servants. 



The •• Spirit of Love," or 1776 in Limbo, 

OR IN THE DAMP CELLAR ! 



Scriptural 
Injunctions. 

I.ove your eD* 
■)!«• ; do rood ts 
them that hat* 
you, and pray for 
them which det- 
pitefully u>e you, 
•ndpeneciiteyou. 
St. Matt. 6:44. 

Let LOTS be 

without diiiimu- 
lalion. Abhor that 
which is evil; 
e I e a r e to that 
which i) pood. 
Rom. 12:9. 




(85) From the San Francisco P. Gazette, Feb. 6, 1864, "Fred'k Coombs, the 
' Pioneer Ditch Digger,'' who has given away thousands of dollars to poor ladies 
to assist them in getting married." 




Ruins of a church after the Eartliquake in South America. The author 
having experienced one or two shakings in San Francisco, Cahfornia, appends 
the following extract of the last big one, on October 21, 1868, page 142 : 

ON THE EARTHQUAKE (1862), 
From the San Francisco Hei'dd and Sacramento Union (both), March 3, 1862, 
" Who can say, positively, that every brick bnildino^ 'v\ San Francisco will 
not be prostrated by an earthquake." 




" If war has slain its thousands, intemperance has slain its tens of thousands.' 
87. If the beautiful birds and wild flowers of California and Australia excite 
the admiration of the lovers of nature, ho will be equally shocked at the dis, 
gusting exhibitions of drunkenness in both places ; but in the latter to see 
lovely woman rushing to destruction, by the public use of liquors, is one of 
the most painful scenes to be seen there. (Soo illustrations above, and No. 102.) 




No. 88.— THE BEAUTIFUL LYRE BIRD OF AUSTRALIA. 
Could man but trace thisbeautiful creature back to its dormant state, as it 
lay in its fragile egg shell, yet microscopically perfect in all its rudimentary 
parts, as hero seen fully developed. Surely man is also inclosed in his frail 
shell, the body, and shall also emerge forth clad in a vesture of beauty or do- 
formity, reflocting all the good or evil deeds done whiLit in that body. 




89 A tribute of grateful affection to liis well-beloved aunt Anne, whose name was 
Cross, yet memory fails to recall one cross look, word, or action towards her 
orphaned nephew, ller beloved presence formed a perpetual sunshine, and even 
the very sky over the place of her residence, Mere Wilts, wore a much brighter, a 
more beautiful aspect than other portions of the heavens to his childish imagina- 
tions, " for love is heaven, and heaven is love." 




(}FiUtf''i/tSif" / 



^90) Captain, afterwards Sir Francis Drake, the first English discoverer 
ana buccaneer of California in 1579. EngraTed from an old English painting. 




NAPOLEON AND JOSEPEINU 



No. 00^. — Xapoleon, the marble-hearted, sacrificing his 0"vni and the 
happiness of the truest friend he ever had, his beloved Josephine, to 
satisfy an inordinate ambition and lust of power, which led to his total 
ruin and imprisonment at St. Helena, where F. Coombs was also impris- 
oned by the British Government on his return home from India, 1823, 
See Page 107 and his "Phrenology," Pages 57 and 97. 




«««:>K>A^%v««%i«x.«% .ik.'v 



91 Dead Church. — See the Honor- 
ab e? and Hcverend ? Townsend Sclwyn 
on top, who, not satisfied with r g 

all their milk, butter, eggs, etc., every 
tenth morning, noon, and evening, from 
the wretchedly poor widows and 
orphans at Kilmington, Somerset, but, 
also, actually took possession of nearly 
one-half the friendless infant orphan 
field to extend his parsonage and pleas- 
ure grounds, complete proof. I. Lush's 
letter. 

P. S. — lie ako discouraged holy mat- 
rimony^ by exacting all the gold he could 
get for tying the knot matrimonial. 



I The Live Church is like the living 
! charitable man who unsolicited sent 
I the means to buy two hundred acres of 
! land to two helpless infant poor cuii- 
I grant Marsh's forty years ago, whom lie 
; had never seen, nor ever expected to 
' see (William and D. Marsh's letters;), 
i who also promoted the holy institution 
\ of matrimony with ^100 in gold to 
1 marry a poor lady in California in 1850, 
whom he never expected to see, nor 
I ever has seen, when gold was worti; 
I more than cent, per cent., one oz. back 
1 during the delightful honeymoon. (See 
! B. P. Belknap's letters.) 




No. 92.— THE CITY HALL AND PARK, NEW YORK. 

This is the spot where Democrats do love to roam and pluck the public 
goose. 

Says the Rev. H. W. Bcecher, December 23, 1867, " New York Herald" 

" Who owns the city of New York to-day ? The devil.* (Great laughter.) 
Where else could be found so much corruption, selfishness, and self-seeking 
as in that city, and then one might go to the State government, and might en- 
ter into the caucuses of parties, and the same state of things would be found 
to prevail with more or less intensity. But the time would come when politi- 
cians will serve the Lord, and after, there would be nothing hard to accom- 
plish." 

♦Very like the name a furiously orthodox cousin of the writer's received 
from both a lady and gentleman who caUed on him in behalf of his benefactor 
(forty years past, living partly on his charities). (See cut 111.) 




93. Interior view of a pure orthodox religious edifice, and unholy recre- 
ations of its very impious inmates in the dark and superstitious days of old. 




94. Exterior view of a pure orthodox religious edifice of the dark and 
Biiperstitious days of old, chiefly frequented and supported by the lovely 
Grecian Bends of that period. See cut 95. 




No. 95 . — "Water! water!! beautiful water!!! in mist, in shower, and 
stream (see Illustration, No. ^0, for liis expenditures and love of it), freely 
forgiving Chicagoans. For in 1849 when there and out of jail on bail, he 
returned them good for evil not only freehj giving them his invaluable 
experiences in the uses and appliances of dehghtful, health-inspiring, 
in\'igorating water, but gave the galvanism /r^e-saving lives, and on his 
passing through there in 1852, gave the " Calif omia Museum, " kc.^free 
for a charity. See Ulust., No. 20, and Papes 71 to 83. 
"To err is human, to forgive divine!'' 



:^^'- 



7 




96. This scene strongly reminds the author of the startling incidenta in 
letters 85 and illustration 20 : 




97. ■ Portrait of the heroic English woman Grace Darling, who, at tlie risk 
of her o^vn life, saved many others from a watery grave in tempests where 
men dared not to venture forth. His Dear Mother's name, page 27. 




98. A fair representation of the tunnel completed through the summit of 
Sierra Nevada Mountains, on the line of the great Atlantic and Pacific 
RaHway, advocated, lectured, and published by the author, but on the Free 
Homestead plan, ever since the discovery of gold in California, 1848, up to date 
Free homes for freemen, and women, too, on every railroad. 




99. His beloved Aunt Anna teaching him kindness to the 
Itinerant Musician. 




100. Grace Darling's father mending his fishing nets. 




101. St. Paul's, London. Extract from Coombs' Popular Phrenology, Bos- 
ton, 1841, page 106 : " America is now his home, and although born within 
the very shadow of St. Paul's, London, he shall call himself a Yankee Phre- 
nologist. He detests monarchical abuses and robberies, and none so much as 
the British.'* The most convincing proof ho had previous to his last visit to 
England in 1838, foreswore allegiance to the British Crown, proof recorded in 
the Albany Justices' Court, on the 20th September, 1832, certified by H. P. 
Nugent, Justice and Qerk, 17th September, 1867. The trip from New York to 
the city of ^Ubany satisfied him about Yankecdom. 

* This uninteresting— very small affair — occured on the 7th March, 1803, 
in Great Knight lUder's St., near Paul's Chain, London. 




/fi^os£/fj:s. 



102. The Yosemite Falls, in the valley of that name in California, is by far 
the loftiest cascade yet known in the world ; with only a single break, it leaps 
two thousand six hundred and thirty-four feet, or sixteen times higher than 
Niagara ; it is very narrow at the summit and more than half a mile in length. 




i¥AaS£fiI£^ 



103 The summit of the Yosemite Cascade commands a view of the most 
incomparable valley in the world ; it is carpeted with rich grasses and myriads 
of wild flowers, including primroses of yellow and crimson and the Ithereal 
Spear of exquisite purple ; this beautiful valley is nine miles long, with an 
average width of three quarters of a mile 




104 Love's Sacrifick. — From the National Police Gazette, October 31, 1863. 
A young lady attempts to commit suicide by throwing herself headlong from the 
window of Earl's hotel, Canal street, New York. F. Coombs greatly hopes he 
lias saved some of both sexes from such a terrible fate by assisting them to g-et 
married. Gold saves lives and ladies too. 



^i: 



s^ 




105 Stuart, the murderer of Mr. Moore, and Janson nearly also. From the annals 
j1 San Francisco, page 320 : 

" Meanwhile the Vigilance Committee got hold of the true Stuart who turned 
out to have been not only the murderer of Mr. Moore, but also one of those who 
had assaulted and robbed Mr. Janson." (Sec cut 43.) 



ior> 








109. A Scene of YouthfuJ Days. 




110. Miraculous preservation from assassination. (See pago 143.) 



until abf.ut thirty years after bis original invention. Nor would ho possibly bave ever 
alluded to this aiicl other benefactioiis of his, had lie not been made the victim of 
the most atrocious outragc^s, iuchiding repeated incarcerations by means of the foul- 
( st perjuries, and t'lO destruction of his property in six different fires, mostly throu{jb 
Ihj villainy, and when in the pos-essioH, of others. His greatest loss of all in tiiis 
respect was when his property, the largest and first dagnerrean ga'lery in California, 
was lorcibly siized by the rich binkers of San Francitsco in the attempt to save their 
own great banking house on the corner of Clav and Montgomery streets from the 
flames. This outrage was peip trated on the 4th of May, 18)1. Our hero was barely 
ab.e to escap'^ al ve from his doomed building, and even then was picked up in- 
e- nsible, as returning consci.)Usness found him seated on a man's knee. Tue veteran 
had rushed through the fijiy furnace unscathed, while many others were burned to 
blackened corpt<es on that dreadful nigh% wlien the devouring demon of destruction 
Hwept from existencv? the chief business portion of Sin Francisco. Many ►itherto 
])r jsperouy merchants were stripped of everyt ling and dependent on charity for even 
F )nu-tliing to eat, lo wear, and t » cure the dread lul burns some had received in fight- 
ing the fire fiend. Yet in ihe midst of all tt<is agony and confusion, regardless of 
iiis owa great loss and his own more aggravating wrong;*, on the morning or this night 
of terror our hero, like a visiting angeJ, was seen going round among the siitferers 
admijistering relief and consolation, and even devoting pari of the gold dusc with 
which \ ka(Y escaped just alive h.nu his own building, to the relief and comfort 
of others. Among the sufTerers attended in their adversity by Professor Coombs 
(for that 18 the name of tlie hero of this narrative) wa^ a previously rich jeweler, who 
required constant watching to prevent him from suicide, so acute were bis sufleriugs. 
Reason sometimes enl-rely lefc this msin, so fearful was the shock be received, iiut 
bo found a steady watch by his side in Professor Coombs. Surely thiS seeais a nobler 
order of tenderi'iess, even than that evinced by Florence Mgniingale, for the poor, 
demented Jeweler our hero tlius helped to save, with the baniiers heretofore men- 
tioned. Bostoniaus all had literally robbed him of tse largest dagnerrean gallery on 
the Pacific coast. 'Ihey h :d done so in the vain hope oi pruven;ing the spread of the 
fire to their own su posed firc-proof I'uilding. Bat tuey sadly tailed, for uothiug 
was let of their great bank but the four mined walls. 

Truly it may b Siid, tcarcely has ever po )r human nature oassed through such a 
fiery ordeal, mental ai(i pliysical, except o.i the battle-field. Our Professor never al- 
1 )Wod himself to a lude to these incidents at the time of their occurrence, nor did he 
then receive the shglitest evid'.nee that his ministrations to a single unforMinato 
were at a. 1 appreciated. And ho would probably bave never received such evidence 
bad be not, when in Australia, in 1857, been the vicrim of a barbarous robbeiy, 
which induced him 'o leturn to C^lilornia. Wuen landing there on hi< return, he 
brought with him more than fifty cases of artistic and scientific material, and theuf r 
the first time in a long life he did ask for some little practical recognition of his de- 
ser.s. But while he makes this confession, be avows the proud consciousness of hav- 
ing done more than his Christian duty in the assistance of others to the ex'ent of 
hundreds and thousands of dollars in gold, without either interest or security. la 
most cases he in fac literally gave every one every thing he asked— giving it from his 
own earnings and savings from the .avages of fires and the assaults of tuievcs, wbile 
acting with the extremest economy in regard to his own personal expenditures. But 
alas! the reciprocity he met with from s )me others was to rob him for his kindness 
past and present, deeming bim a fit subject for their hyena voracity. The following 
successful attempt to throw our hero ini-o jail in San Francisco, right on the scene of 
bis beneficent labors, illustrates but too weil the justness of his complaints of in.^rati- 
tude. The charge oh which he was thus imprisoned was a bogus charge of larceny. 
But the corrupt Judge on whose warrant he was arrested, also in addition granted a 
search warrant against him lor "feloniously converted diamonds," and bad the ras- 
cally officials got them in their possession, they would indeed have been " feloniously 
converted." But in this they disastrously failed. For the moment the charge came 
up for investigation, our hero was triumphantly released, the Police Court deciding 
that the charge of grand larceny against him was nothing but an attempt to force 

freenbacks on bim in pavment of a note, which_by special, con tract, called lor gold, 
he case was therefore abruptlv dismissed. ^ ^~_' -- -^ - 

As soon as he was released, he was hailed on the'streets of San Francisco with an 
ardor that showed his hold on the popular afi"ection. " There goes an angel," ex- 
claimed one Californian to another on passing the silver-locked hero. More than forty 
titles of honor were awarded him by the press of Cabfornia. As far as Melbourne. 
Austraba, he was hailed as the " Missionary of Science and Teacher of the Beautiful.'^ 
Again, he is known as the "Distinguished' Philanthropist," and again, as "the Pio- 
neer Ditcher of Napa, and Matrimonial Union Promoter." On his release from the 
San Francisco jail, he was hailed as " Washington, the second conqueror." 

But wo have no more space to go into additional details of his eventful life." It is, 
indeed, a rare, strange lire, and there is enough in it to furnish the volumes for & 
library. We have barely been able to outline it in the briefest possible manner. 

• It might truthfully have been added he had previously forgiven this per- 
juied ingrate above $300.00. See Alta California, Feb. 17, 18G4. etc. 




ACROSS THE CONTINENT 





